Abuja — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday reacted to allegations by leading opposition political party the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) last weekend's national convention of the ruling party was a sham.

PDP in a statement by its new National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisah Metuh, castigated the ACN, insisting that it lacked what it takes to comment on the credibility of the mechanism for selecting the leaders of a leading party like the PDP, pointing out that its comments were "hypocritical" as the party has been under the imperial command of just one man.

According to the PDP spokesman, "we particularly deplore the hypocritical stand of the ACN. It is disingenuous for a party that is completely under the whims and caprices of one individual to criticize a tested and trusted PDP process.

"The undemocratic nature of their conduct in anointing and appointing its representatives is a well known fact and cannot be shielded by a false sense of self righteousness".

Metuh maintained that the comments made by the ACN and CNPP were "unfair, unjust, uncouth and senseless", stressing that the CNPP was nothing but "a loose coalition of fringe parties".

He stated that "the PDP as a party has for so long tolerated mindless criticisms by the opposition on seemingly obvious achievements by the PDP and its elected representatives.

"The voluntary decision by aspirants contesting various positions to step down at the convention ground shows the PDP's capacity for consensus building and internal cohesion.

"For the avoidance of doubt, contrary to the mischievous insinuations of these groups, no candidate was forced to step down.

"We challenge the ACN and indeed any other party in Nigeria to come up with evidence of any of their internal electoral processes that is anywhere near our congresses and convention in terms of mass participation and transparency.

"The new National Working Committee of our Party under the able leadership of Alhaji Dr. Bamanga Tukur shall not be distracted by attention seeking criticism in its avowed commitment to return the Party to the lofty ideals envisioned by the founding fathers," Chief Metuh added.