TheCable

Uche Secondus, acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says the era of having undue influence in the party is over.

Speaking on Tuesday when Sentell Barnes, resident country director of the International Republican Institute (IRI), visited him in Abuja, Secondus said “money bags” will no longer be the deciding factors in the party.

Complaints of lack of transparency were common in the buildup to the 2015 election, with series of protesters storming the Wadata plaza headquarters of the party in Abuja, at frequent intervals.

But Secondus said he is working towards repositioning the former ruling party.

“The era of ‘automatic tickets’, is over. We want to eliminate influence or what is called money bags,” he said.

“Our intention is to make our primaries zero expensive, so that nobody will induce anybody. I want to revolutionise the party so that the idea of money bag controlling the party will be eliminated.

“We want every member to participate in the party’s activities. We were so used to winning in the last 16 years. We never prepared for defeat and so when it came, we were surprised.

“Now, we should know that money is not everything. Then we were wrong. The party belongs to all and should not be in the hands of few money bag. The party must be returned to the people.”