Sixteen governorship aspirants under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State have called for the cancellation of the ward congresses of the party holding this weekend.
The decision was reached after a meeting between the leaders of the campaign organizations of the aspirants.
Sotonye Iynye Dagogo, who spoke on behalf of the stakeholders, told a media conference in Port Harcourt noted that the process leading to the ward congresses had been flawed with so many breach of procedures.
He also alleged that the wife of the President, Patience Jonathan had been causing disaffection in the party by openly endorsing a particular candidate for the governorship position.
“The campaign organisations of the aspirants have noted the processes leading to the ward delegates elections scheduled Saturday 1st November, 2014.
“Our party the PDP has breached the procedures that should lead to the ward congresses which include open registration, authentication of the party registers at ward level and display of party register as stipulated in the party constitution.
“As a group, we had raised issues about the illegality of the state Working Committee and wrote a memorandum to the Integration committee set up by the National Working Committee in this regard.
“It is on record that our members were assaulted by thugs of a governorship aspirant and the ugly incident was widely reported in the mass media. It is unfortunate that nothing has been done till date.
“We want to put it on record that the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan has publicly endorsed an aspirant.
“The First Lady has also approached some of the aspirants to step down and even invited them to dinner/meeting in the Presidential Villa.
“We have constrained ourselves from addressing the unacceptable and unfortunate interference of the First Lady in the affairs of the Rivers state PDP because of the enormous respect we have for our son, President Goodluck Jonathan.
“But we want to say that enough is enough.”
They further expressed disappointment at the manner which the National leadership of the PDP had been handling the matter in Rivers state, stressing that the PDP in the state did not belong to any individual.
“We want to put it on record that the National Chairman of our party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu came to Port Harcourt and said that Wike is on course with his governorship ambition.
“The state Secretary of the party, Ibibia Walter was on air referring to aspirants who have collected PDP forms as APC agents.
“To make matters worse, membership of the Ward congress Committee and the Appeal Panel are made up of known cronies of Prince Uche Secondus and Nyesom Wike. This cannot guarantee a level playing field.
“We therefore, call for the postponement of the Ward congresses until these grievances are addressed to avert dire consequences that could affect the fortunes of the PDP in Rivers state”.
Some of the aspirants include, BEKINBO DAGOGO-JACK, DUMO LULU-BRIGGS, LANCELOT ANYAYA, SAMPSON NGEREGBA NIMI WALSON-JACK, SENATOR LEE MAEBA, ABIE BOB-HART,. GABRIEL PIDOMSON.
Others are SILVA OPUSUNJI, BENARD MIKKO, PAWWARISO HORSFALL, DENNIS OJUKA, TONYE PRINCEWILL, NWAKWO SUNDAY, PROFESSOR DON BARIDAM, and TAMUNOSISI GOGO-JAJA.
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