Haruna Mohammed is the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview monitored on Arise Television, he speaks on the credibility of the PDP primaries and laws in the Electoral Act, among other issues, EVINCE UHUREBOR reports

Besides what some people describe as defects in the Electoral Act, there are lots of internal rancour and rumbles across party lines now. Do you still have faith in this democracy?

Yes, the Electoral Act to be specific has its own flaws, and as you could see from the outcome of the various primaries conducted, especially within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), you could see how funny some of the results are and the public outcry.

I think the Electoral Act ought to have allowed the indirect mode of primary, so that parties can have various options, but caging political parties to only direct and consensus mode of primary is one of the flaws I think the Electoral Act has brought into the democratic space. However, be that as it is, I think nothing is going to happen to Nigeria’s democracy. We are evolving, so we are going to get it better.

And I believe that with the experiences of the conduct of these primaries, the next 11th Assembly will do something to amend the Electoral Act, so that it will address some of these things. But on the overall, I think democracy has come to stay, and we are doing better but there’s still room for improvement.

The PDP is gearing up for more of its primaries, a few of them have been ongoing already, and it’s creating quite a buzz. Can you give us from your perspective how confident you are that it will be free and fair?

It is free and fair already. You could see from the media space, no complaints; absolute zero complaints from the PDP. This is not because we do not have a contestant vying for the same tickets, we do, but because of our ability to ensure there is internal democracy, there is absolute freedom and rights given to party members to exercise their rights. You could see that there are no complaints from the PDP, and most of the aspirants we fielded who have now turned out to be our candidates are very credible and marketable brands, who will defeat any candidate from any political party.

We conducted our House of Representatives primaries some days ago; results are out and there are no complaints anywhere. Would it be right to say that there isn’t much contention and controversy in the PDP-led primaries because these supposed contenders feel it’s not worth the while to invest their electoral effort because the outcome is shrouded in uncertainty based on the position of the PDP, the deeply fractured position of the party? That is not correct. Let me give you an example.

Go to Plateau. We have about five governorship aspirants. So, what are we talking about? Go to Gombe, we have four with even female aspirants. We have screened about 40 governorship aspirants so far. So, who said it is because people do not have confidence in the outcome of the PDP? No, that’s absolutely not correct.

We have a large population of Nigerians who are still not too familiar with the relevance of the primaries and how important it is, especially for the 2027 elections. Can you give us your perspective on this?

Yes, the conduct of primaries is one of the provisions, mandatory provisions provided by the Electoral Act. You have to pass through the primaries before you finally emerge as the candidate of any political party. So, that enables political parties to give their members the right to participate, to vote and be voted for. It entrenches internal democracy within political parties.

Without the primaries, there is no way candidates will emerge. And I think it is one of the processes that political parties must do everything possible to make sure that impositions are not allowed and then there should be a high level of transparency. So, that is the bedrock upon which our democracy can actually survive. Just wait for 2027 elections; I don’t know if I say anti-party within APC, perhaps it may be an understatement.

But the PDP will surely consolidate on the divisions within the APC and grab power. So, when we are saying PDP will come back, we are not joking. We are only pleading with Nigerians to see reasons why PDP should be given the opportunity again. Yes, we have had our problems, but we are pleading to Nigerians that we are ready to mend our ways and then make things better for the citizenry.

To what extent would one say the PDP is really serious about wrestling the top seat of the nation from the incumbent?

Your faction is presenting Senator Sandy Onoh as a presidential candidate in comparison with the other faction, the Kabiru Turaki faction that is seeking from all indications the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Is there a possibility of reconciliation before the major election? And to what extent would you be willing to adopt the other faction’s candidate if it sails through, despite the legal odds? Well, I insist that it is the media that is factionalising the PDP. There is no faction anywhere. Go to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and ask them. The Supreme Court judgement is unambiguous.

We have had our problems, but we are pleading to Nigerians that we are ready to mend our ways and then make things better for the citizenry

It’s clean, clear and straightforward. Abdulrahman Mohammed remains the legitimate national chairman of the PDP. The concept of winning elections in the past is usually one which suggests that you must get someone who is known by all Nigerians and we have tested this. And several, even those who appear to be the most popular candidates, turn out to disappoint many Nigerians. So, why not, this time around, get someone who has consistently been identifying with the downtrodden in this country?

Prof. Sandy Onoh, someone who started as a local government chairman, led the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON). He became a senator, contested on his track records. He is a man of good moral standing. He is a man who has the energy, the vision, and the knowledge. These are things that we need to look at. What is in his manifesto and what is his antecedent?

What is his track record? By the time you place all of this on the table; it surpasses any popularity of any candidate, who does not have any track record.

And I can tell you that in the past, there were rumours, propaganda all over that PDP would not field any presidential candidate. Today, we are fielding one yet people are saying he is not someone who is competent enough to lead. Where is that one that is competent to lead, that has refused to come and pick a nomination form? We never shut our doors to anyone who wishes to.

Unfortunately, the sales of form have closed, screening done and concluded. But otherwise, I would have said, if you want to contest, please come. As a female, you only pay N1 million to pick your expression of interest form.

So, PDP is really, really ready and the issue as to whether some groups are calling for President Goodluck Jonathan to contest, yes, we saw stories flying around. But it would be surprising that a man of the calibre of President Jonathan would subject himself to that. I doubt he had ever considered it.

But if he actually did, it would be surprising as a former president, a man who has laid a solid foundation for the survival of democracy in this country, will subject himself to a caricature arrangement of people who are not legally recognised by the electoral body. In fact, as a matter of fact, we have a petition before the Nigerian Police against these imposters using the name of PDP to commit fraud. So, it is surprising when you say there’s a faction.

Part of the pronouncements in the Supreme Court judgement was the suspension of five members of the Nyesom Wike camp, including the FCT minister himself…

I am categorically denying that there was no mention of that. I was in court from the Federal High Court. At the Court of Appeal, I was there and at the Supreme Court, I was there.

There was no mention and the issue of suspension was never an issue, a question for determination before the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. You are not a lawyer, so I will advise you to discuss this with your legal department.

There is what is called question for determination, and it is that question for determination that the Juries answer and that forms what we call the judgement of the court. There was none.