*House of Assembly aspirants raise alarm over NWC plans to frustrate members
By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki
The chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Barr. Silas Onu has reassured members of the party of free, fair and credible elections across the state calling on members to sheath their sword for the sake of peace and progress of the party in the state, while House of Assembly aspirants raised alarm over plans by National Working Committee (NWC) to destabilize members.
The chairman of the party in Ebonyi State, Barr. Silas Onu said this while addressing newsmen in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Capital.
Barr. Onu apologized to all members of the party for the delay in conducting the primary election across the state, saying that it was as a result of the National Convention taking place in Abuja which made it difficult for the electoral panel to arrive early.
He stated that on arrival of the panel committee members, they had to go to INEC to submit documents in order to be empowered to monitor the election.
They therefore, assured members of tight security throughout the period of the election.
“I want to start by apologizing for the delay in election, it was difficult for the electoral panel to be dispatched to Ebonyi State.When the arrived, we had to go to INEC to submit our documents in order to be fully empowered to monitor the election as required by the electoral act.
“The election continues today for the security of INEC staff.
“The police, DSS are well mobilized.Today, we are going to have four elections ranging from House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senatorial and Governorship all together tomorrow.
“We are here for party business and to comply with all the laws.We want all members to obey and follow the law as it is.
“Mr. Abrabam, National Organizing Secretary who will be bringing materials for this election.
“For this election, only the 513 adhoc delegates and national delegates will be voting for governorship and then for House of Assembly, only 12 will vote. The election will move very fast as delegates list is obliged”, Onu said.
On the side of House of Assembly election, the aspirants from different parts of the state under the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) accused National Working Committee of alleged plans to frustrate the election since they shifted attention to the highest bidder for the primary election.
All the aspirants therefore, called on the leadership of the party to do everything possible to rescue the party from money bag politicians to avoid frustrating all their efforts in winning election in the state.
The Chairman of the forum, Hon. Rodstick Eze, while addressing journalists in Abakaliki, regretted the unnecessary delays in the election, urging the national leadership of the party to do everything possible to safe the party impending implosion.
“We the aspirants for Ebonyi State House of Assembly under the platform of our great party, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have keenly observed the turn of events in Ebonyi State PDP over the past 3 weeks and we are gravely concerned for our dear party and our ambitions.
“We are concerned over the ugly uncertainty we face every day in Ebonyi State PDP, it has become urgent that we speak out to our National Party Leaders to intervene and save the party from the apparent impending implosion of the PDP in Ebonyi State.
“About a month ago, the party opened its door for Sales of nomination and expression of interest forms giving Aspirants the privilege to join the race for the 2023 general elections. Over 70 persons aspiring for Ebonyi State House of Assembly seats bought forms, filled, submitted them, and got them cleared.
“Some of these aspirants sold their properties, while some borrowed money to purchase their forms and to go round parts of their respective constituencies for consultations with party members and delegates.
“A lot more persons bought forms to contest for other various positions such as House of Representatives, Senatorial, and Governorship positions.
The House of Assembly primary election was first scheduled to hold on May 7th, 2022 and since then it has been postponed three (3) times.Other states already had their primary elections on Tuesday 24th May 2022.
“However, in Ebonyi State, we are currently faced with deafening silence and uncertainty with our fate and that of our party hanging in the balance over the primary election for various offices.
“As good party men and women, we’ve endured this tumultuous and harrowing day with stoic confidence and hope that the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party would adequately arrest the situation and ensure that our party faces the coming election.
“However, recent events with regards to the PDP in Ebonyi State suggest that the NWC is either bent on killing the PDP in Ebonyi or invariably doing a hatchet man’s job for the enemies of the PDP in Ebonyi State and the Southeast zone at large.
“It’s now trending in Abia, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, and other states (in other zones) that the NWC sells tickets to the highest bidders causing those who have stood firm with the party in trying times to be frustrated by the party, a situation that is causing a serious crisis in various chapters of the party, especially in the Southeast.
“In the last two days three great icons of the PDP in the Southeast namely their Excellencies Mr. Peter Obi, an outstanding Presidential aspirant of our great party, Senator Ike Ekweremadu former Deputy President of the Senate and a Governorship aspirant in Enugu State, and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Senate Minority Leader and a Governorship aspirant in Abia State have all left the PDP in a most disgraceful manner.
“We are, therefore, particularly appealing to NWC to quickly set matters straight as it concerns the case of 3-man ad-hoc delegates and primary elections in Ebonyi State.
“It cannot be overemphasized that the PDP is the dominant, most viable, and the leading party in Ebonyi State, and any action that causes the party not to field candidates in the state will not only kill the party in the state but confirm the notion that the PDP is out to sideline the Southeast in its fold.
“We demand that the NWC of the PDP save the party in Ebonyi State and the Southeast by intervening in current crises that have thrown millions of PDP faithful in Ebonyi State into confusion, despair, and uncertainty.
“We demand that the NWC do the needful and take active steps to set aside major impediments and ensure primary elections are conducted in Ebonyi State in a free and fair manner before the June 3rd deadline in line with extant electoral laws.”
