Former National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Solomon Lar yesterday said that the forthcoming primaries of the ruling party need to be free, fair and credible.

Lar who stated this when he led a delegation from Plateau State to express sympathy over the fire that gutted part of the party's national secretariat recently, expressed confidence in the leadership of the party under Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo.

"NWC is doing well. I expect PDP primaries to be free, fair and credible," he said while fielding questions from journalists shortly after the visit.

Earlier, while meeting with the party's national chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Lar told the party's leadership that he had led law abiding members of the party for the visit, and urged the chairman to count on them to deliver Plateau State for the party in the 2011 general elections.

Those on the Plateau delegation yesterday were major PDP stakeholders in the state including two former governors Sir Fidelis Tapgun and Chief Joshua Dariye, some members of the National As-sembly from the state and 16 out of the 24 members of the state House of Assembly.

Former Minister of Sports Damshi Sango, several governorship aspirants of the party in 2007 as well as the secretary of the Caretaker Committee set up by the National Secretariat to oversee the affairs of the PDP in Plateau State pending the conduct of fresh congresses, Adamu Zakari, were also part of the delegation.

Similarly, Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim were also at the PDP Secretariat to express their concern over the fire.

In his remarks, Governor Suswam said the fire had only reminded the party that it needs to quickly complete its multi billion naira headquarters and move in.

"Thank God no life was lost... It will encourage us to provide the money for the construction of the permanent secretariat. This office has over stayed its use," he said.

"We have been in power for about 12 years and it is necessary for our party to have a befitting secretariat. This is reminding us that we need to move fast," he added.

Governor Ohakim in his reactions said the fire outbreak has underscored the need for the party to appreciate the positive impacts which the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) could have in the running of party activities.