Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Uche Secondus, said the party required a new constitutional framework to guarantee internal democracy within its fold.
Secondus stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while inaugurating the party’s Constitution Amendment Committee.
He said that the party also needed a new constitution that would provide an efficient organisational structure and process under which the aspirations of its members could be maximally articulated.
He said that since its inception in 1998, PDP had effected five constitution amendments with the first in 2000 and others in 2001, 2006, 2009 and 2012.
“In all these amendments, we have not had a more pressing need to review our constitution than we now have.
“Today, we are faced with the reality of becoming an opposition party after governing the country for 16 years.
“Not only are we expected to function as a vibrant opposition, it appears that by a surprising stroke of fate, Nigerians will once more be relying on PDP just like they did in 1998, to save our democratic project,” Secondus said.
He declared that the party must therefore reform and reposition itself for the task ahead.
He urged members of the committee to use the report of the party’s Post-election Review Committee to explore ways through which the party could forge ahead.
“It is one working document you will find very useful,” he said.
Speaking at the occasion, the Country Director of International Republican Institute (IRI), Mr Sentell Barnes, urged PDP to take “bold steps” and adopt strong recommendations in its Constitution.
Barnes said that taking such hard steps was crucial ahead of the party’s 2016 convention and would prepare it for its new opposition role ahead of the 2019 general elections.
He said that over 16 years, Nigeria’s political environment witnessed gradual consolidation of democracy with the political process becoming more competitive.
“With the outcome of the 2015 elections, the political environment has shifted and the PDP has found itself in a new role.
“Thus, the PDP is presented with a unique opportunity to not only strengthen the party, but to make the necessary reforms to move forward in this new environment,” he said.
Barnes stressed the need to strengthen the party and encourage members of the constitution review committee to make necessary changes to bridge existing gaps in the Constitution.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Mr Victor Kwon, PDP National Legal Adviser, said that the members had accepted the responsibility given to them to offer recommendations for the review of the party’s constitution.
Kwon assured that everything would be done, including the review of the Constitution, to ensure that it offered a credible alternative platform to Nigerians.
He pledged that the committee would look into the party’s post-elections review committee’s recommendations in taking decisions on the way forward.
“The recommendations will necessitate the review of our party’s Constitution.
“Apart from the post elections review recommendations, this committee promises that we will look at other areas that require strengthening,” he said.
The areas, according to him, include women and youths’ participation in the party’s affairs, especially at the national level, as well as the restructuring of the party.
