WEEKS ago, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at a forum promised to assist women vying for political offices next year. Between official promises of giving them automatic tickets (even for seats that are already occupied) and the moderated version that they will be provided funds to contest against others, there is no decision on the matter. PDP keeps vacillating on its position on primaries.

These matters are on the fringes of the issues that inform how the country’s largest party runs. PDP is impulsive, undecided, and is one of the best examples of how a country is managed without any inclinations for the law, whatever it says.

On paper, everyone expects that from the Electoral Act, every party will hold primaries. The jostling for the votes of delegates appears to be the way the law expects aspirants to the various positions should operate.

The poor example of PDP endangers the elections. Why will candidates in PDP not be interested in contesting primaries? They will rather frighten others out of the process. Why is the party itself uncertain about what they intend to do? Will PDP again operate above the law as if it is not part of the country?

In the bid to get the ticket for President Goodluck Jonathan, it is difficult for PDP to determine whether it will serve the President or Nigeria ’s broader interests.

Already, there is confusion. Governors will get automatic tickets, according to some sources. Many PDP members have invested their lives waiting for opportunities to vie for elective offices. PDP does not make these positions open. Those who occupy them can give an arm to ensure there are no primaries.

Party headquarters have people willing to sabotage the entire process. Why will a supposed deal between governors and the President become a party affair that will deny others the opportunities of their rights to offices that should be available to all who want to aspire to offices?

Will there be primaries in PDP? Party Chairman Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo says there will be primaries. The attitude of the governors and others who are in elective offices is that they are there to stay for as long as they want.  Where will these leave the women that the party promised to assist at the elections?

Hopes are lean that there will be primaries.  If they hold, they will be in constituencies the party wants to punish the office holders, or where there is nobody strong enough to hijack the office.

Without primaries, Nigeria ’s few gains in democracy will be gone soon. We can still have democratic governments, but they will be worse than dictatorships.
The politics of convenience PDP plays cannot be helpful in 2011. It should conduct primaries at all levels, for all offices.