…says Saraki’s name being used to perpetuate “undemocratic act”
The Concerned Alanamu/Ajikobi Youth Forum has raised alarm over plans by certain politicians in Ilorin West to impose a candidate on other party members, The Informant247 Nigeria News.
The group in a statement issued on Tuesday in Ilorin, the state capital, also disclosed that these party members are using the name of the former Senate President Bukola Saraki to perpetuate their act, which they tag as illegal and undemocratic.
The group pointed out that there are spirited attempts by these people to zone the House of Representatives ticket of the constituency to ‘Magaji Ngeri’ area so as to favor some certain aspirants.
The statement reads, “These people, who have connived with a particular party official at the state, zonal and LG level, were given instructions by their undercover paymaster to ensure members belonging to Old-PDP block are favoured in all processes at the detriment of other aspirants-this is against the spirit of fairness, justice and neutrality preached by our party leader, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki in the ongoing party processes to select candidates for various offices.
“The automatic sub-zoning of party House of Rep slots to Magaji Ngeri area without consulting aspirants or party stakeholders raised suspicions that both the LG party structure led by chairman, Abdulkadir Issa, (a member of Old PDP block), some zonal party officials as well as an individual at the state level are all working together to favour a certain interest in the race.
“When the LG party structure invited all aspirants to a meeting earlier today, the thought that came to mind is that the party is going to reiterate its neutral stand and unbiaseness to all aspirants from Ilorin West. It’s quite unfortunate and rudely disturbing that the chairman could open his mouth to say the House of Rep race have been microzoned to favour only Magaji Ngeri area.
“When asked what informed their decisions, they could not lay to any claim than telling us that “THEY GOT AN INSTRUCTIONS FROM LEADER”, Dr. Bukola Saraki. The only stand of our leader, Dr. Bukola Saraki which was made public to all party faithful is that he has no interest in any aspirant and that everyone seeking office should work around the people. The leader stand remains our positions and nothing will change this position
“Another important point to note is the voting population of other zones when compared to Magaji Ngeri, how will they convince us that aspirants coming from Magaji Ngeri area which only lay claim to five wards will out beat those from Alanamu/Ajikobi with seven wards?
“We do not think those who made this crude decision actually pay attention to details or put the party’s interest into their agenda.
“We make bold to say that this fraudulent zoning is undemocratic, unprincipled and unacceptable. We will resist all manners of schemings aimed at sabotaging the party’s interest by few people who see themselves as lord’s over the party.
“We call on our party leadership to quickly call these oligarchs to order , compel them to retrace this crude moves and allow destiny of all aspirants to be fairly determined.”