National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, on Thursday reeled out the achievements of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) while briefing reporters in Abuja.

Mr. Secondus said that the NWC which took over the affairs of the party after it lost its 16 years reign in power inherited a party that had problems with internal democracy.

He, however, said that notwithstanding, PDP under his leadership through reforms had significantly enhanced its image and status.

“All over the country the PDP remains the bride. States under the party’s control rose from 11 to 16, while the party now makes use of internal mechanisms to resolve its internal issues.

“At the risk of being seen as blowing our own trumpet, it’s necessary to note that this NWC is the first in transparency and accountability.

“It is the first to function effectively for three years without scandal or dent of corruption.

“The first, also to successfully render account of its monetary expenditures to both National Executive Council (NEC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as statutorily required,’’ he said.

Mr. Secondus said that the NWC would within the next one year embark on programmes including e-membership registration slated for 2021.

The chairman also said the party has yet to decide on zoning for the 2023 election, saying it would only take the decision after reviewing its performance at the 2019 general elections.

“After the general election, we set up a panel to study and appraise our performance and make necessary recommendations,” Mr. Secondus said. “The Governor of Bauchi state, Alhaji Bala Mohammed is heading the committee and it is still working.”

“We can’t be talking of zoning when we have not appraised how we fared in the last election.

“Moreover, the state of the nation today is such that politics or anything concerning 2023 of three years away should take back stage,’’ he added.

He said that the NWC also intended to finalise the peace and reconciliation process within the party with a view to entering the general election as a united and focused political family.

“The 2019 general election appraisal committee is also expected to finalise its report and some decisions are to be taken and implemented from that.

“In the next one year we also intend to continue the reorganisation of our administrative structure to bring us to the realistic opposition status through digitalisation and upgrading of our offices,” he said.

Mr. Secondus accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of poaching members of the PDP and other opposition parties to run election on its platform ahead of 2023.

“I believe that what should bother the ruling party most should be governance, the security, the economy, all that have broken down,” he said.

Asked if PDP was making moves to bring back former President Goodluck Jonathan following the clamour for an Igbo presidency, Mr. Secondus said that the decision could only be made after the submission of the election appraisal committee’s report.

He, however, added that the decision was not for the NWC but for the entirety membership of the party.

“I believe that whoever is interested in 2023, including the former President, has a bright chance because the PDP is a party of all.

“Everybody will have that opportunity but in clear terms, we have not taken any decision to give anybody the ticket for now,’’ he said. 

(NAN)