... Petition PDP National Working Committee for urgent intervention
BY NATIONAL PANEL REPORTERS
Over 24 PDP aspirants for the Ebonyi State House of Assembly on Thursday in Abakaliki, said their tolerance to continue to be in their party with no clarity on the ongoing primaries and stable leadership in the state can never longer endure unless their National Working Committee does the needful urgently.
Their leader, Chief Steve Rodstick Eze, vying for the Oharaozara East seat in Ebonyi Assembly, stated this while briefing newsmen on behalf of his members.
Eze said, "there is an urgent need to rescue Ebonyi PDP," as he called for the timely intervention of the party's National Working Committee alongside the stakeholders, to prevent a total burial of the party spirit in the state.
According to him, "We 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 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."
Eze explained that 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.
He noted that "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.
"Finally, 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 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.
"We alert our teeming members in the state and Nigerians at large to hold the PDP National Working Committee of the PDP responsible should Ebonyi State fail to field Candidates for various positions in the 2023 general elections."
