MORE discerning Nigerians would not be surprised at the suggestions that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, should not conduct primaries for its presidential and governorship candidates.  With Chief Tony Anenih, Chairman of PDP’s Board of Trustees adding his voice to “no primaries”, the matter is already settled.

A slight modification that the provisions should be for those doing well indicates PDP cherishes performance. Of the 23 States with PDP governors – Abia, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and Taraba – a count back reveals only three governors, those of Gombe, Kaduna, and Kwara would benefit from the policy by 2015.

“I do not see anything wrong if the PDP considers automatic tickets for the President and its Governors who have performed well and are seeking for a second term. Over the years, our primaries have been the most serious sources of rancour and disunity in our ranks, and, that we usually invest so much resources and energy fighting ourselves in the primaries that should have gone into the larger battle against our political rivals,” Anenih said.

Anenih has pedigree in these matters. When he speaks under the guise of personal positions, he often says what the party would do. For the first eight years of civil rule, during which his relevance soared in the Obasanjo administration, he was the apostle of automatic tickets. Party members who sought electoral positions worshipped him, he was the oracle whose dictation was law.

Should PDP not be moving away from such undemocratic practices? What becomes of the ambitions of other party members if Anenih’s policy includes the legislature, which he also proposed? Why would a democratic party shun internal democracy in its operations?

If the idea of stopping primaries is to avoid internal wrangling, how would this be possible in the 20 States where the governors are not eligible for re-election? How would the party manage election of its candidates for more than 1,000 legislative seats at the national and state levels?

Anenih has identified a challenge. His solution falls below democratic standards and hits hard at the democratic culture of choices that Nigeria has been building since 1999. After 14 years of civil rule, it is stunning that the suggestion is being made as solution to basic issues parties face.

Imposition of candidates under whatever guise is undemocratic. PDP is not the only party involved in this practice, but with its stature as the leading party its examples are important. Now that it faces challenges with primaries, it should find democratic solutions that still gives party members choice of candidates.