The Senator, representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, who was disqualified from the Bayelsa governorship race, Senator Paulker Emmanuel, has slammed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for lack of internal democracy.
The Senator, who expressed his displeasure at his disqualification by the PDP's zonal screening committee in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, noted that internal democracy remains key to democracy in Nigeria but still lacking in the PDP.
Paulker who spoke in Yenagoa, during a thank you dinners organized by his campaign organization, noted that since his inexplicable purported disqualification, the party's appeal panel had yet to come out with the result of their screening.
During the screening, Paulker, a three-time Senator, and a former Chairman of Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area, Chief Ebikitin Diongoli, were disqualified, paving way for Governor Seriake Dickson as the sole candidate of the PDP which has been affirmed by the party’s delegates on Thursday.
Paulker said, “For our democracy to thrive in this country, there must be internal democracy. Without internal democracy, it is difficult for a party to reflect democracy on the playground. It is better to quarrel in the process of internal democracy than to shut out internal democracy out of our democratic experience.
“Regarding our disqualification, up till now, the appeal panel has yet to come out with the result of the screening.
“Power comes from God. Irrespective of parties, Bayelsa belongs to all of us. If a government is formed tomorrow, all of us will benefit from it. Any government in power owes all of us a duty of service.
“Like I told them at the screening panel, when they criticized me that members of the All Progressives Congress attended my ceremonies, I stated the party required more Paulkers now than ever because we require ambassadors to go out of this party to canvass for votes in order for us to win.”
He stated democracy had come to stay in this country, but warned of any attempt to make mockery of democracy by shutting some people out of contest for political offices.
Also speaking, the Director-General, Renewal 2016, Senator Paulker Emmanuel Governorship Campaign Organization, Dr. Ayakeme Whisky, stated what happened to their principal, Paulker during the screening was a rape on democracy.
Whisky, who is a prominent member of PDP Unity Group, an association within the PDP, stated the forum which held alongside a dinner, was an avenue to strengthen those behind him (Paulker) and to cultivate a bond of relationship.
He said, “Paulker, as a loyal party member and our principal has given up on his disqualification. What else do you want him to do? If the party he aspired for its flag, till this minute as we speak, has not released the outcome of their appeal screening, what do expect him to do but to defer to God?
“At the lower screening committee, they stated he was not cleared. Suspectingly, six months ago, they cleared the same man to fly the flag of the party to contest for Senate. He contested and won the Senate for the PDP, he is a serving member of the Senate, the same man you did not clear today, on what grounds?
“It is quite inexplicable. The same man appealed the disqualification. Expectedly, the appeal committee should have come out with the result, either upholding his disqualification or non-clearance or giving him clearance to contest.
“But even as we speak, the timetable for the PDP primary is over. As we speak, the outcome of the appeal panel has not been released.