THE Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described the recent demand by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators for automatic return the tickets to the National Assembly in 2011 general election, as undemocratic and capable of stunting the growth of democracy in the country.
The senators had at an interactive session with National Chairman of PDP, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor early this week, said experiences and huge resources invested on them in legislative business would be wasted if not given opportunity to return.
Reacting, the ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony N. Z. Sani said the senators wanted to take Nigerians for a ride stressing that in a democratic society, there is nothing like automatic ticket. He also said the senators wanted to destroy the PDP.
"The senators want to take Nigerians for a ride. They want to destroy the PDP and impede the growth of democracy in Nigeria. Their demand for automatic ticket for the 2011 elections is undemocratic and unacceptable.
"There is nowhere in the world, where democracy is practice where people are given automatic ticket to contest election by the political party they belong. The people are the only authority to give anybody an automatic ticket because it will mean that they are satisfied with what you have been doing as their representative.
"The senators should look at what is happening in other parts of the world, especially countries like Iran where the people are protesting against the election that recently took place there" Sani said.
The Mass Movement of Nigeria (MMN), an opposition political party in its reaction, condemned such demand, saying it was undemocratic, calling on Nigerians to resist the imposition of candidates on them in the 2011 elections.
Chairman of the party, Alhaji Idris Musa who said that some of the senators did not truly win the 2007 election, added that most of them have failed their people and are scared of going back to ask them for their mandate for the 2011 election.
Musa also said the demand of the senators runs contrary to President Umaru Yar’Adua’s quest for internal democracy.
"Even though I am not a PDP member, such proposal is undemocratic. The president who is from the PDP is talking about internal democracy and senators are talking of automatic ticket.
"We should be looking at how people can emerge credibly for elections and to allow Nigerians the opportunity to elect leaders of their choice.
It is the senate president that is talking about this. You know some of them did not win the elections in 2007, they just manipulated their way and they that they not sure they can win the next election.
"They want easy ticket to leadership and this is very dangerous to democracy. Let the people decide. The truth is that when people elect you and you perform creditably well, they will still re-elect you.
"The problem is that some of our leaders in power have not performed to the expectation of Nigerians, especially the senators, that is why they want automatic ticket and the implication of this, is that they will manipulate the electoral process again to remain in the senate. This is not good for the growth of democracy in Nigeria.
"Your re-election should be determined by your performance and I can cite examples of the governor of Lagos and Jigawa state who have transformed their states within the past two years.
"In two years, Fashola has changed Lagos State, in two years; Sule Lamido has transformed Jigawa State. These are people Nigerians will always be ready to give their mandates to, at anytime because they have proven their capabilities," he said.