2015: PDP vows to disqualify bribe-offeringaspirants

os - As politicians prepare for the 2015general elections, the PDP
says it will disqualify any aspirant caught offering bribes to
delegates to secure its ticket to contest electoral office.
Gumbari, the party's Zone 3 chairman in Kaduna State, stated this in
an interview in Jos on Monday.
He said a special committee had been set up to monitor the activities
of aspirants and report any unwholesome attitude to the party
headquarters.
"We have resolved to field only popular, acceptable and saleable
candidates in 2015 and shall not tolerate anyone sharing money or
using any other dirty tactics to influence the primary elections,'' he
said.
"The sanctions for bribe-offering aspirants will be very severe; the
minimum is disqualification from the race.
"The party can also suspend or expel the erring party from its fold so
as to cleanse the system,'' added Gumbari, atwo-term member of the
House of Representatives..
He advised rich party faithful to use such money to develop the party
and strengthen it to win elections.
"Wealthy members should rather contribute toward a stronger fold so
that PDP will be repositioned to continue to be the leading political
outfit that it already is. Such monies, if contributed to the pool,
will be receipted.
"When one is identified as being an asset to the party, it can help
the chances of getting the ticket because members will see you as one
that is committed to ensuring progress.
"You cannot hide your money and use it to buy delegates because PDP
has since passed that stage,'' he said.
He said the state chapter of the party had initiated periodic meetings
duringwhich party officials would be sensitised to the need to
de-emphasise the greed for monetary rewards and promote service to
the people.
"Again, we have seen many instances where rich aspirants are rejected
in spite of their money. We have also seen many instances when
so-called anointed aspirants are thrown out by the delegates.
"We must encourage more of that to instill discipline, as well as
internal democracy and cohesion in the people,'' he said.
Gumbari also spoke on recent allegations by CPC leader, Gen Muhamadu
Buhari, that the southern part of the state had gained nothing from
its total loyalty to the PDP since 1999.
"I feel strongly against what he said. I think he was just exercising
his right to freedom of speech as allowed in a democracy.
"Many people have commented on that and I share their opinion that the
allegation is not worth worrying about.
"The PDP governments at the federal and state levels have built many
roads and bridges; our people have risen to the pinnacle of their
chosen fields. We now have a state university with the vice chancellor
coming from the southern zone.
"The PDP has made it possible for us toproduce the governor of Kaduna
who died last year. We never dreamt of that, but the party gave it to
us against all odds,'' he said.
He said the party had initiated a mechanism for a strict assessment of
its members in appointed or elected into positions of authority to
ensure that the people benefited from such positions.
"We particularly will take interest in the relationship between those
in offices and the electorates. Gone are the days when elected
politicians disappear after victory. We shall no longer accept that,''
he said.
He said that the PDP would remain the dominant party in the state, and
expressed delight that it recently received defectors from other
political groups like the ACN, CPC, ANPP and the PRP.
Gumbari declared that the yet-to-be registered APC would never be a
threat to the PDP, stressing that his party was "well rooted'' in
Kaduna State and therefore had no fear.
"APC is not a threat at all. The PDP has come to stay because it has
consistently kept its pact with the people by identifying with them.
The parties seeking to merge have no presence in zone three,'' he
said.
The chairman however, advised PDP members to be more cautious as the
opposition would be out to cause confusion, "through misinformation''
so as to "gatecrash''. (NAN)