Rights Monitoring Group and Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity (RMG&CCDI) have urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) to allow internal democracy dominate the forthcoming governorship primary in Bayelsa State ahead of the November 11, 2019 election.
In a statement issued by the President, Olufemi Aduwo, from the United States, the groups stated that the election would provide another opportunity for the people to deepen democracy and accelerate development recorded by the outgoing government.
Aduwo, who is also the permanent representative of CCDI to United Nations, condemned the senseless killings during the last general elections in the state which he witnessed as election observer, adding that such barbaric acts must not be allowed again.
The statement reads in parts: “The PDP must be ready to conduct free and fair primary election. The party must encourage and deepen internal democracy and shun imposition of candidates on the people but reward loyalty and consistency, instead of patronising the godfathers.
“Since 1999, PDP has been ruling Balyesa State and by extension ljaw nation, hence, the party must not take the good people of the state for granted to avoid the calamity that befell APC in Zamfara State.”
Aduwo appealed to former President Goodluck Jonathan, not to dabble into local politics of such level or allow the candidates to use his name to campaign before the primary.
“He had set example that other African leaders should follow by that singular action he took in 2015 that averted bloodbath in Nigeria.
“We appeal to to the people of Balyesa to eschew bitterness, bigotry, hate speech and promote and sustain the peace and the record that the outgoing governor Seriake Dickson has achieved.
Aduwo, who is currently in the New York to witness the election to the office of the United Nations General Assembly President scheduled to hold tomorrow, congratulated in advance the Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Professor Tijani Mohammed-Bande, who emerged as the President of 74th General Assembly.
Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity has consultative status of the United Nations which Aduwo represents as the Permanent Representative
