Senator Gyang Pwajok (PDP-Plateau North) on Sunday alleged that the All Progressive Congress had no policy focus “except outright criticisms of even positive Peoples Democratic Party programmes”.
Pwajok added: “The build up to the merger process was characterised by massive media blitz.
“The leaders of the new party were just enjoying that attention and did not remember to fashion out any specific routes to redirect public policy.
“So, what we have as the APC is a group of politicians seeking to replace the PDP without telling Nigerians what they hoped to do differently.”
Pwajok spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
He observed that the APC had “just crossed the first hurdle” and advised its leaders to speak more on what Nigerians should expect from them and not just see them as an alternative political party.
“The leaders should also focus on resolving internal wrangling usually associated with such political marriages and alliances,” he said.
The senator pointed out that only the PDP had survived as one major entity since 1999.
He, however, expressed happiness at the emergence of the APC and stated that the nation was gradually moving towards a two-party system.
The senator emphasised the need to give the voters some policy options, but noted that such might not be forthcoming from the APC.
He said the party was “largely made up of runaways from the PDP who are in a hurry to wear the toga of progressives to deceive Nigerians.”
He agreed, nonetheless, that the challenge from the APC would re-define the PDP in terms of quality representation and internal democracy.
“With more serious challenges, the PDP will be more focused on presenting the most acceptable candidates so as to win elections,” he said.
Pwajok said that the PDP’s decision to revisit its congress was part of the efforts toward internal democracy, noting that such was a bold step to ensuring fair hearing to all.
He added: “For a party to agree that it did not get it right and seek to correct itself is a huge demonstration of self-criticism, which is key to a strong democratic wisdom.
“In real practice, it means that the PDP looked at itself in the mirror and decided that it must do some internal adjustments so as to correct anomalies.”
Pwajok called for more unity among PDP members and harped on the need for quality representation that would instil more public confidence towards building and protecting a strong democracy.
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