Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The crisis rocking the Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has worsened as some of the party’s aspirants for various elective positions in 2023 have kicked against the plans to hold a fresh primary.
The aspirants who made their position known in Abakaliki, capital of the State on Friday said they will boycott any fresh primaries organised by the party.
The national working committee of the party had scheduled the elections to hold on 28th and 29th of May 2022.
However, midway into the exercise, the NWC announced its cancellation.
But the exercise went on and was concluded with the emergence of Ifeanyi Odii as winner of the governorship primary election.
However, the NWC on Tuesday wrote to INEC informing the electoral body of the cancellation of the primary election.
But the aspirants who spoke through a former House of Representatives member and winner of Ebonyi Central senatorial primary election, Lazarus Ogbee, insisted that the already held primary must stand
They warned that the party might end up not having any candidate or losing any position it wins in next year’s election to other parties like what happened to APC in Zamfara and Rivers in the past.
They noted that the rumour of fresh primaries in the state, was an invitation to anarchy and crisis, and not healthy as the country is preparing for a general election.
According to Ogbee, the delegates that nominated the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, and Governor were legitimately elected across the 171 wards of the state.
He added that the primaries were conducted in the presence of INEC and security agents.
He said: “candidates were nominated on 28th and 29th to fly the flag of the party, ranging from house of assembly, house of representatives and governor. I want to recall that the NWC of the party scheduled the primary in Ebonyi on 28th and 29th of May.
“It is on record that because of the little crisis in the party, there was no primary election in Ebonyi State when other states nominated their representatives.
“Three-man delegates were elected in the 171 wards of the state. The delegates are in turn expected to vote for the candidate of their choice and this they did from the 28th and 29th of May.
“The state chairman conducted the primary that was monitored by INEC, security agencies, the DSS, and journalists monitored the primary that was done in the open. The election was certified as the most transparent in the history of the party in the state.
“Today, we started hearing rumours that the same NWC has reversed themselves and directed that the same primary election be conducted on the same position. There was no reason or breach of the party guidelines that another set of primaries be conducted in the state.
“It is on this note that we want to appeal to the party to allow peace reign in the state. I have never seen where two persons are contesting for the same position in the same party. We do not want to experience what transpired in Zamfara and Rivers states on the side of APC.
“We want the NWC to intervene in the matter and allow those they have nominated in their votes to stand in Ebonyi State PDP. All the delegates were picked from the 171 wards of the state. INEC has the list of delegates nominated in the 171 wards. We appeal that if there is any interest playing out, the appeal should be played down in the interest of the party.
“The guber primary was conducted in the open. The house of assembly primary was also conducted in the open and all other primaries were conducted in the open. From that day the primary election was conducted, we have not heard of any infractions. We so much appeal to them to allow peace in Ebonyi State and prepare for the general election,” Ogbe appealed.
