PDP May Go Extinct If Not Reformed, Says Chidoka

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former Minister of Aviation, and National Executive Committee (NEC) member of the Peoples Democrat Party (PDP), Osita Chidoka, has called for a reformation of the party to avoid it not going into extinction at the earliest possible time.

Chidoka, who was Corp Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) also  recommended an amendment to the electoral act, where  presidential candidate ‘must’ score over 50% to be declared winner

Speaking on a television programme in Abuja, Chidoka, however, lamented the effect the Labour Party had on the PDP as it lost some of its strongholds to the party in the last election.

According to him, “The PDP in itself is a government that was in power for 16 years. Its instinct is that of a government party and not that of an opposition party, and it has taken us eight years now to begin to realise. We are smelling the coffee that it’s not four years and we are back or we are coming back the next day.

“Now, we are beginning to see that PDP itself needs to be reformed. It needs to renew and reform itself to be able to begin to play the role of opposition, knowing full well that we have a politician as president.

“If PDP doesn’t get its act together, it will be an extinct party. So, we need to wake up, smell the coffee, find the kind of leadership that will represent us in an opposition atmosphere, and begin to do the work of the opposition.

“We must do the work of mobilisation and imbibe the work of technology. The last four years have taught us a bitter lesson that a young party can come up and take away PDP strongholds in an election cycle.”

Chidoka, therefore, suggested that the constitution be amended to ensure a runoff in any election where the presidential candidate did not secure over 50 per cent of votes cast.