The Peoples Democratic Party has said that it had no plans to give any of its members an automatic ticket to contest the 2015 elections.
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisah Metuh, said this while receiving Charles Odedo, a member of the House of Representatives, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress to the PDP.
Metuh, who received the lawmaker on behalf the National Working Committee of the party, noted that the opposition APC was being rejected by Nigerians.
The PDP spokesman also announced that the party would not give automatic ticket to the party’s returning lawmakers and other political office holders
He urged those aspiring for elective positions on the PDP platform to allow the people elect their leaders through democratic process.
Metuh said, “Most of all, we are going to be very open in this year, that is a crucial year of nomination. The party has decided that we will not have any automatic ticket.
“So I am happy that you are coming to the party with your eyes wide open knowing full well that we will not have automatic ticket to returning members and other people that are coming in.
“No matter what it is, if you have any ambition, let the people decide. The people will decide, the people will decide whether you are good for them or whether they want any person. And whatever it is, the will of the party prevails.”
He explained that Odedo was not the only person rejecting the APC because Nigerians from every part of the country were already finding their way out of the opposition party.
The party spokesman said, “We do not want to talk about your other party, but it is good that we mention it, just like you have rejected APC and come to the PDP. I want to inform you that you are not alone.
“Responsible, Nigerians are rejecting APC. APC is being rejected in North, in the South, in the East and in the West. The Moslems have rejected APC, the Christians have rejected APC, the people of Nigeria have rejected APC. So, you are not alone.
“Our doors are wide open. So we expect a lot of people to start coming to the PDP. That is the party that accommodates all interest irrespective of religion or tribe.”
Earlier, Odedo who represents Idemili North and South of Anambra State in the House of Representatives, announced that he was leaving the APC because he was not a party to the merger entered into by the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria with other parties to form the APC.
Odedo was presented by the state Chairman of the PDP in Anambra State, Ken Emekayi, to the National Secretariat of the party.
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