Jonathan Begs PDP Reps

President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members of the House of Representatives to sheath their swords and work for him in the forthcoming general elections.

It was reliably gathered that the President made the appeal when the aggrieved lawmakers met with him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Sunday night.

A source privy to the development said ”the lawmakers bared their minds to the President, telling him how the PDP secretariat virtually sold tickets to the highest bidders.

A particular lawmaker from the South-South who wanted to become a governor narrated how he was swindled of N1 billion by some PDP stalwarts at the secretariat but commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which has retrieved about N500 million from the party men who swindled him.”

Other lawmakers had complained of unfair treatment by their various party chieftains who ensured that there was no level playing ground but rather ensured that the highest bidders had their way.

They also told the President that national officers of the party connived with state governors to undermine the established internal democracy of the party.

The lawmakers further complained that because of this development, no true primaries were held in virtually all the states.

They said this led to the emergence of political paper weights and stooges who ordinarily cannot win ward elections in their respective areas.

The source said the president after “listening promised to work with them and compensate those who were wrongly replaced or denied tickets. He also appealed that members should save the party from being disgraced at the polls.”

The lawmakers had met in Room 208 in the Reps wing of the National Assembly where those who will speak on their behalf were nominated at about 7.30pm before they went to see the President.

The meeting ended at about 10.30pm and a similar meeting, it was gathered, would be extended to the senators soon.