From Mba Nnenna – Abakaliki
As Crisis deepens in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Aspirants for the Ebonyi State House of Assembly have appealed for proactive actions from National Working Committee to rescue the party in the state.
The PDP Chairman Ebonyi state House of Assembly Aspirants Mr Steve Rodstick Eze Thursday made the appeal as contained in a press release at Salt Lake Hotel, Abakaliki.
He maintained that “the press release is geared towards the urgent need to rescue Ebonyi state PDP”.
Mr Eze an aspirant representing ohaozara East constituency explained that the press release contains resolution of the forum that reads as follows;
“We as the aspirants for Ebonyi State House of Assembly on 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 3weeks.
“And we are gravelly concerned for our dear party and our ambition. We are speaking as concerned politicians.
“We are concerned over the ugly uncertainty we face everyday in Ebonyi state PDP. It has become urgent that we speak out to our National party leaders, to intervene and save the party from apparent, impending impulsion of the PDP in Ebonyi state” (he said).
Furthermore the press release states “About a month ago, the party opened her door for sales of nomination and expression of interest form.
“Giving aspirants the privilege to join the race for 2023 general election, and we are here present.
“Over 70 persons aspiring for Ebonyi State House of Assembly seats, bought form, filled and submitted and got cleared.
Some of these aspirants sold their properties, while some borrowed money to purchase their form to go round part of their respective constituencies, for consultations with the party members and delegates.
“A lot more persons bought forms to contest for other various position, such as house of representative, senate and governorship positions.
“The House of Assembly primary election was scheduled to hold on May 7th, 2022. And since then it has been postponed for three times.
Whereas, other states already had their primary election on Tuesday 24th of May 2022, then why us?
“However, in Ebonyi state we are currently faced with failings, silence and uncertainty, with our fate that our party hanging on the balance over the primary election for various offices.
“As good party men/women we’ve endured this tumult and horror days with confidence and hope that the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party would adequately arrest the situation and ensure that our party prepares to face the coming general election.
“However recent events as regards to the party in Ebonyi state suggests that the NWC is either bent on killing the party in Ebonyi state or invariably doing a hatched men job for the enemies of PDP in Ebonyi state and the southeast zone at large.
“Its now trending in Abia state, Anambra , Imo, Enugu and other states and in other zones.
“The NWC sells ticket to highest bidder, causing those who have stood firm with the party in trying times to be frustrated out of the party. The situation that is causing serious crisis in various chapters of the party, especially here in the southeast.
Mr Eze affirms that three giant icons of the PDP in the southeast namely; his Excellency Mr Peter Obi an outstanding presidential aspirant, Senator Ike Ekweremadu former deputy Speaker of the senate and the governorship aspirant in Enugu state and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe
have all left the party in a disgraceful manner.
The Committee is therefore appealing to the NWC to quickly set matters straight as it concerns the case of 3 Adhoc delegates and primary elections in Ebonyi state.
It described PDP “as a dominant, most viable and leading party in Ebonyi state, despite that the party’s mandate was stolen and taken to another party.
And any action that causes the party not to fill candidates in the state, will not only kill the party in the state but confirm the notion that PDP is out to sideline the southeast in its fold.
The Committee therefore demands that the NWC of the PDP save the party in Ebonyi state in the southeast by intervening on the current crisis that has thrown millions of the PDP faithful in Ebonyi state into confusion, despair and uncertainty.
Adding “that the NWC do the needful and take active steps to assert measures, impediments and ensure primary elections are conducted in Ebonyi state, in a free and fair manner before the June 3rd deadline in the extended electoral law, in line with the ruling of the appeal court of Ebonyi state PDP.
“On this note we alert the teaming members in the state and Nigeria at large, to hold the PDP National Working Committee of the PDP responsible should Ebonyi state fail candidates for various positions in the forthcoming general election.” (Eze said)
