Members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Enugu State are at daggers drawn over the ongoing congresses of the party.
DAILY POST gathered that the crisis, which started brewing last weekend, followed an alleged directive by some stakeholders of the party that serving local government chairmen whose congress is billed for tomorrow (Thursday) should be allowed to return.
This is also as high level disaffection has trailed the party’s ward congress conducted last Saturday as most members felt short-changed.
For the local government congress, a source told DAILY POST that some of those affected had held offices in the last 16 years, adding that allowing them to continue to occupy such positions would amount to putting the aspirations of others at bay.
But Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr Okey Eze denied any such plan.
He said that the congress of the party which started last weekend with election of ward executives had progressed smoothly, adding, however, that those complaining “are minority persons who will only identify with the party when there are vacant positions”.
He added: “We don’t have problem with mainstream members of the party, they understand our workings. Where we have problems are those in the Diaspora who suddenly joined because there is congress and they are looking for what to grab.
“They should know that several persons were there before them and should know how to queue up”.
Those who condemned the position of the stakeholders alleged that such was responsible for the disharmony that trailed last Saturday’s congress at the wards, stressing that allowing the plan in tomorrow’s local government congress would plunge the party into crisis.
“The truth is that so many people are not happy as I talk to you now. How can you say that the local government party chairmen in all the councils should be returned? So, why is the party conducting congress?
“This is exactly the same imposition that ruined the PDP in the 2015 elections. Why are we still repeating a singular mistake all the time? Some of us have shouted that this is not good. The last time we met in government house, we also said that the members should be allowed to elect those that will lead the party, but it appears that there is a script being played by the Lion building, which will have adverse effect on the party”, one of the aggrieved members of the party, Chief Ogbonna Ugwu said yesterday.
He further disclosed of a rumour going round the party circles that a former Commissioner of Agriculture in the state, who until recently was the Vice Chancellor of a University of Agriculture had been penciled down to become the state chairman of the party in the state.
He stated that the idea was capable of eroding the party completely in the state as according to him, “he has not been with the party to have learned the rules”.
He called on Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to intervene by allowing rule of law that would give members of the party sense of belonging to prevail.
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