Imposing of candidates for elections by political parties has been identified as one of the major challenges in Nigerian democratic process.
This was observed by the International Republican Institute ( IRI) at a three days interactive session with members of political parties in Bauchi.
The three day event was held with members of All Progressives Congress ( APC), Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party ( NNPP) with a theme: "Bauchi Citizens Engagement & Communication Development Workshop".
In his presentation IRI’s Programme Ofiicer, Sunday Alao noted that people should be allowed to choose candidates instead of imposition by party leadership at all levels.
He said that parties must create more opportunities for their members to fully participate in the selection of candidates in primary elections.
"If the political parties show preference among its candidates or impose one on its members, there is likelihood of dissent and rebellion by its members against the party’s imposed candidate,” he said.
He said that proper channels of communication back and forth must be opened by parties which will give room for proper feedback to and from the party to ensure proper engagement between members and the leadership.
"There must an intelligent engagement between party leadership, its members and electorates on matters of elections at all levels. People should be allowed to talk about what they believed in at all levels so that they can be carried along in the activities of the parties.
"What political parties are doing must reflect the wishes of the people. There is a clear disconnect between the political parties, their members and elected officials who were voted on the platform of the party at all levels,” he said.
Alao said parties have also failed to initiate a reward system for members that will make them identify with the parties even after elections which made their secretariat a place for visit only when elections are coming.
"That is why, houses of elected representatives, their offices, government houses are where party members including the party’s leadership converge to conduct party activities,” he added.
