The Peoples Democratic Party Elders Forum in Southern Kaduna Senatorial Zone, Kaduna State, on Monday rejected the proposition of automatic tickets for elected office holders in their area.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, chairman of the forum, Haruna Zego, said the people vehemently rejected automatic tickets and imposition of candidates, monetisation of electoral processes and intimidation. He said Southern Kaduna people should be left alone to determine their political future.
On last week’s endorsement by elected representatives led by Senator Nenadi Usman in Southern Kaduna, Mr. Zego said, “Please get me right and clear; we are yet to meet but as far as PDP in Southern Kaduna is concerned, there is no automatic ticket to anybody, not even in Kaduna State. No money, no force, no intimidation and divide and rule that will work over us.
“We are completely studying the endorsement that was done by our elected people. We will go back to our villages to seek their opinion, even though we already know but we will go back and confirm because we respect them and are holding trust for them”.
Mr. Zego, who is the only surviving top PDP member in Southern Kaduna, following the deaths of Patrick Yakowa, Stephen Shekari, Isaiah Balat, Yohanna Madaki and Garba Ali, insisted that only President Goodluck Jonathan had the support of the generality of Southern Kaduna people.
“The generality of Southern Kaduna people are for President Jonathan, but any other person will not have automatic ticket in Southern Kaduna. This is a statement of fact and by the grace of God you will see because we don’t arrogate power to ourselves but saying position of the conscious people of our area.
“I repeat, there is no automatic ticket and there will be none in Southern Kaduna, outsiders should allow us decide our future because we are capable of handling ourselves and we will not tolerate any form of imposition”, he said.
