Pressure mounts on PDP to cancel congresses

Pressure mounts on PDP to cancel congresses

Some governors and leaders are mounting pressure on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cancel the results of the acrimonious ward congresses held last Saturday across the country.
It was learnt that some party leaders from Enugu State have secured a court oder for the cancellation of the ward congresses.
Seven aspirants in Akwa Ibom said in a petition that there was no congress.
But the pressure was being rebuffed by the party leadership because, according to them, disputes are limited to some states, especially in the Southeast and Southsouth.
It was gathered that some governors, senators, and members of the House of Representatives have lodged compliants at the NWC.
Most of the petitions were said to be from Rivers, Enugu, Oyo, Abia,Benue, Anambra, Imo, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Taraba.
The aggrieved party leaders, aspirants and members are demanding fresh ward congresses.
A member of the NWC, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have been receiving petitions and represenattions from some governors and leaders of the party in some states, including Rivers, Cross River, Enugu, Bayelsa, Oyo and Akwa Ibom.
“These aggrieved members have been calling for the total cancellation of the ward congresses when it was obvious to them that not all the states were affected.
“Some have also become desperate by securing court orders to force the party to cancel the congresses.
Some notable leaders and aspirants for governors on the platform of the PDP in Akawa Ibom State declared in a petition that there was no congress in the state.
In a letter to the PDP Appeal panel, seven aspirants: Umana Okon Umana, Senator Helen Esuene, Justice Nya Ebito, Ime Effiong Ekanem, Bishop Samuel Akpan, Mr. Nsima Ekere and Asuquo Asuquo Okpo titled ‘A total rejection of Akawa Ibom ward congresses of 1st November and call for a freesh and a properly conducted ward congress, they said the list of all aspirants seeking to be ad hoc delegates was not published and displayed where ward congresses were to hold in line with the guidelines.
They said this made it impossible for a proper congress to be conducted.
“Some of the envelops containing the election materials did not get to their final destination as they were hijacked in Uyo, the state capital.
Other reason given to back up the protest are: that there was no accreditation of voters hence no congress held in any local government especially with the absence of original election materials.
They also said the polling materials in all council areas contained only the names of ad hoc delegates that Governor Godswill Akpabio wanted in it.
“The conduct of the exercise was fraudulent from the outset. What took place was a well-scripted show put up by the governor, the state executive of the party with the acquiescence of the panel (members) who made themselves available to do the governor’s bidding.”
The aspirants also said “election had been conducted the day before in the Governor’s Lodge, Uyo”.
The aspirants urged the party to order a fresh, free and properly conducted ward congress in the state.
The petition was copied to National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
PDP National Publicity Secretary Chief Olisa Metuh said: “Since we conducted ward congresses, the NWC has not met to consider all reports. So, anything you have heard is speculation.”