Allow party select our guber candidate, Okocha tells aggrieved PDP aspirants

Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief O.C.J Okocha has urged the 16 aggrieved aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to allow the party produce a candidate for the next governorship election in the state.
Okocha who is a chieftain of the PDP in the state said he was disturbed by the actions of the aggrieved governorship aspirants of the party when the party had not decided on a candidate for the election.
Continuing he said it was the responsibility of the party to decide who should emerge its standard bearer, adding that the party should take it as its duty to produce a candidate that is likely to win the election for it.
He further appealed to elders in the state not to whip up ethnic sentiments, stressing that it is individuals that vote and not ethnic groups.
“I have heard ethnic groups issue statements that parties should select their sons and daughters else they will not vote for the parties. They even call for zoning, citing constitutions. As beautiful as the arguments may be democratic principles should be promoted. It’s a matter strictly within the purview of political parties to decide who becomes their candidates”, he said.
“Ethnic groups do not contest elections, it is individuals that contest elections. It is for a party to select who it feels will help it win elections.”
A party must be pragmatic, sagacious enough to know which of its aspirants will be most likely acceptable. When people go to cast their votes they go as individuals and not as ethnic group. When I go to cast votes I should go for who will best represent my interest. “, he said.