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From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The aspirant for Jos-North/Bassa Federal Constituency under the National Democratic Congress (NDC), David Lahandu Dama has accused the Plateau State chapter of the party of subverting internal democracy and abandoning the principles it uphold by claiming a primaries that never existed for Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency.
He alleged that the party leadership sat in darkrooms, bypassed the constitutional guidelines of the party and the Electoral Act and traded the mandates of the masses for parochial interests.
Dama stated this yesterday while addressing journalists at the Bishop’s Court in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
He insisted that there was no definite, genuine consensus arrived at, saying “instead of a fair, evidence-based democratic contest, the leadership of the NDC chose to surreptitiously manoeuvre every transparent process.
“I am here before you today with a heart heavily burdened, not by the fear of political contest, but by the tragic and systemic execution of internal democracy within our party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Plateau State Chapter.
“On behalf of our resilient and unwavering campaign team and our teaming supporters across Jos-North Bassa Federal Constituency, I express our deep disgust, dismay and total disappointment with the current leadership of the NDC in the state
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“We are witnessing a dangerous drift into the abyss of misdirection, retrogressive governance and institutional decay, a hallmark that destroys trust and confidence of citizens spearheaded by the very people who swore to protect the integrity of the ballot.”
He said he joined the race “under the profound belief that the NDC was a breath of fresh air, a lease of new life, a trust that the frail and emasculated citizens can heave a sigh of relief.” He added that the party’s public rhetoric portrayed it as “an outpost of transparency, a destination of people’s trust built specifically to correct the historical ills of party politics in Nigeria.”
He further alleged, “What we have faced is a coordinated, undemocratic charade masquerading in the garment of ‘demo’cracy as there was no primary election conducted in the selection of who the party is expected to present as candidate for the House of Representatives to represent the enviable people of Jos North-Bassa at the Green Chamber.”
According to the aspirant, “Let it be known to the world today that the NDC on the Plateau has officially become a caricature of the old system, characterised by imposition, impunity, high-handedness and lack of internal democratic accountability. What we collectively fought against in other political platforms has now been adopted as the standard operating procedure within the NDC.
“By silencing the voices of legitimate aspirants and shutting out the electorate, the leadership has created an artificial brick wall, a gap and a lacuna between the party hierarchy and its membership at the grassroots.”
He accused the party of infiltration by fifth columnists, saying, “This party has, without a doubt, been infiltrated by fifth columnists who seek to destroy it from within. Otherwise, how can a party that touts itself as a beacon of progressive reform look at the citizens of Jos-North and Bassa in the eye when it cannot even conduct a transparent internal direct primary as provided for in the electoral law?”
