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Federal lawmakers
elected on the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP) may be
given automatic tickets to contest the forthcoming general elections to
return to the parliament. The PDP national chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo
who disclosed this in Abuja yesterday, however, said only those who
have performed well will be granted such privilege.

According to him,
the aim, is to have some form of continuity in government and also to
grow the nation’s democracy. He added that it will also put an end to
the learning process.

Mr Nwodo, who spoke
at a workshop organised for the women aspirants and political office
holders, in the PDP said “We have said it at the party secretariat and
at the National Assembly when we went to meet members of the House of
Representatives and the senators. We said that, we as a party want to
grow this democracy and in trying to grow democracy, what we need to do
is to have some form of continuity and therefore, we will like as many
members of parliament who are performing and who are also acceptable in
some extent in their constituencies to come back,” he continued.

“Unless we do that,
we will continue our learning process. Every day we are learning; we
would stop learning. We have to build and consolidate the democratic
institution. So, in doing that, I think the next thing I am going to
push for is the return of as many as possible,” Mr Nwodo added. Sources
however said the carrot was dangled before the lawmakers to secure
their support for President Goodluck Jonathan during the forthcoming
primaries of the party.

There are about 80
members of the party in the Senate and about 270 in the House of
Representatives. Earlier in the year, the Senate President, David Mark
had demanded automatic ticket for the PDP senators, saying it will
guarantee legislative strengthening.

Women representation

Mr Nwodo told the women not to relax until their demand for the 35 percent slot in appointments and election positions is met.

According to him,
it is now generally known that women also have the mental capacity to
do it “You will not get 35 percent by sitting at home. When you come
forward in this manner and you say it with great emphasis, people will
listen,” he said.

“Anybody who is
saying that a woman is least qualified for any position on earth is
saying balderdash. It should be condemned because we are endowed with
the same mental capacity to do what any man can do. And these days we
don’t do things by force.

We do things by
intellect, by computer and by inventions and science. We don’t use
force. So, what anybody can do you can do.” Mr Nwodo said that the
National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP at its last meeting,
approved 35 percent slots for its women members in the area of
appointment and elective positions, but that it is merely waiting for
the ratification at the national convention to make it constitutional.
According to him, “What is important is giving you the same
level-playing ground to do what others are doing. In PDP, we have no
impediment to the success, absolutely not. We have been giving you
nomination forms without paying, we have given you 15 percent and now
35 percent.

“The 35 percent I can assure you has gone through our NEC as at last meeting.

What we will do now
in our party at the next national convention is to put the 35 percent
in our constitution. We are not stopping at that. We as a party want to
grow democracy.” Earlier in her speech, the PDP national women leader,
Ina Ciroma said that the workshop was put together to prepare female
aspirants for the challenges posed during the 2011 polls.

Also speaking at the forum, the Minister of Women Affairs, Josephine
Anenih appealed to the PDP NWC to ensure that not less than 35 percent
of female aspirants win during the party primaries. According to her,
democracy entails ensuring a level playing field and that it is only
when everybody is given opportunity to contest that democracy can be
said to be thriving.