Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
One of the presidential aspirants of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Cosmos Ndukwe, has accused the party of toying with the South-East geo-political zone even as the 2023 elections approach.
He said that PDP should not yet bask in the euphoria of the party’s victory in last Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, arguing that the victory was the personal efforts of the party’s candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and not that of the party.
The former Deputy Speaker Abia State House of Assembly, expressed furry that PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had not considered it wise and expedient to reach out to presidential aspirants from the zone for a true reconciliation since after the primaries.
He reminded the PDP of the far-reaching implications of treating the South-East with disdain after the zone which has consistently been a strong base for the party was denied its presidential ticket.
“Even some of us from the South-East who spent our money – N40 million – bought forms, but have not been reached for any reconciliation. There has not been genuine reconciliation. The presidential candidate only made efforts to reach a few people.
“Those of us who felt that the South-East was terribly marginalized and abused did not keep quiet. Our party Constitution on zoning (Section 7, sub-section 3B) was abused. It wasn’t reviewed before they threw the presidential ticket open.
“Till date they have not reached out to those of us who contested with Atiku. None from the South-East has been reached including Mazi Ohuabunwa. They only made partial contact to very few people. They still think that some of the aspirants from the South-East are nonentities.
“It appears that PDP doesn’t care about South East; and you think that people are not seeing all these things and react during election?”
Despite PDP’s victory at the Osun poll on Saturday, Dr Ndukwe said it was not yet uhuru for the party, strongly arguing that Adeleke’s popularity and general acceptance would have still fetched him victory even if he contested on another platform.
The former Commissioner for Trade and Investment, further argued that those that voted for Adeleke were “Obedient voters” and not just PDP members.
“Those that voted for Adeleke were ‘Obedient’ voters, so, nobody should celebrate. Adeleke is good and ‘highly Obedient’ and that is why ‘Obedient’ voters in Osun State voted for him.
“My party should not over-celebrate. Adeleke did not win because he is in PDP; he won because he has impacted lives. He won because he identifies with the people.
“His victory is what I call personified voting democracy – voting for individuals in place of voting for party. If Adeleke were in another party they would have still voted for him because he has endeared himself to them.
“He has always opened his door to the people. During the COVID-19 you saw how he was sharing palliatives to the people. So, people saw the election as a pay back time.
“Adeleke won because he was acceptable to his people. His overwhelming goodwill to Osun people is what they are rewarding.
“PDP should not rejoice yet because they saw that in Ekiti we could not even come third. So, it was a vote for the individual not for the party. It was purely a personal effort by the Adelekes not party.
“What has happened in Osun State is an indication that people have jettisoned voting across party lines. They now vote for individuals, and you will see more in 2023.
“Defeating a sitting Governor with all the structure at his disposal is no joke. But if as a sitting Governor you are not carrying the party structures along, definitely, during election the people will abandon you.”
The former Commissioner for Trade and Investment further saw Adeleke’s victory as an indication that the people are beginning to repose confidence in the electoral system.
“Adeleke won because the people are now beginning to believe that the Bimodal Verification Accreditation Machine, BIVAS, is real and functional.
“Our party should not over-celebrate yet because people have woken to the reality of knowing their rights and if our party presents the wrong candidate anywhere people will still go for the right candidate.”
