The Peoples Democratic Party has said it will not offer anyone automatic ticket for the 2015 general election.
The party, in a statement on Tuesday, said contrary to insinuations in some quarters, it will not offer the incumbent office holders what has been termed the right of first refusal for any elective position.
In the statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP said the party’s ticket for incumbent office holders can only be guaranteed by sterling performance.
There have been insinuations that the party would give President Goodluck Jonathan and governors serving their first term a right of first refusal for the 2015 ticket.
Metuh’s statement reads in full: “Our attention has been drawn to strange publications purporting that our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party is undergoing another process of Constitutional amendment to guarantee automatic tickets to some incumbent office holders for second terms.
“The authors of this alien idea insinuated that we want to model our internal nomination process after the practice in the United States of America.
“We have received several calls from concerned Party members for clarifications following this misleading publication.
“In order to set the records straight, the PDP wishes to clearly state as follows:-
“1. The Party is not involved in any process to amend its Constitution at the moment. The 2012 amended copy is now the grand norm of the Party and we intend to strictly abide by its provision. The PDP does not exist solely for the purpose of perpetual amendments of its Constitution.
“2. We have already made our position known that holders of elective positions can only secure another term based on their performance and their acceptance by the people in a free and fair primary election where all party members shall be guaranteed a level playing ground. The PDP under Alhaji Bamanga Tukur shall never short circuit the will of its members under whatever guise.
“3. We also wish to make it clear that the PDP has its own constitution where processes for candidates’ selection are clearly spelt out. We are therefore only bound by the provisions of this constitution and not the conventions of any other party, anywhere else in the World. We are no copycats.
We therefore urge our members to disregard this idea as we suspect that it is handwork of mischief makers who are desirous of causing disaffection among our members.”