Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said unless the country’s electoral laws are amended to ensure transparency in the conduct of 2023 general election, it would be difficult for the party to field candidates in the election.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday when he hosted a team from the International Republican Institute (IRI),who paid him a courtesy visit at the party’s headquarters, the National Chairman of the Party, Uche Secondus described the party’s experience at the last general election as terrible and horrifying.
“One of the areas we are looking forward to in our country is our electoral processes and laws. We believe they are antiquated, they need amendment. We need to improve on our voting patterns and the reporting of results from voting point and the transmission processes.
“They are all embodied in the electoral processes and amendment; without that, it will be difficult for us to think about contesting any election because previous experiences have been terrible and horrifying. The people in government with INEC and security agencies collaborate to deny the people their right. As we speak, both the legislature and judiciary have been caged and they are taking directive from the villa.
“So, these are areas that we need the collaboration of IRI and other international agencies. If people do not have the right to vote, what is the essence of election? People must come out of their houses to register and vote. They must have the right to go out there to vote and then be safe” Secondus stated.
He further told the delegation that the party has set up a committee to review the conduct of the 2019 election to determine if it can participate in the 2023 exercise under the current electoral law.
“If there is no need, we will inform the leaders of our party, show them the facts and figures, people who have ben killed, people who went to vote, if you can not be guaranteed that you can go and vote and come back safely, what will be the need in 2023 to come and vote?” he said.
