PDP CHAIRMANSHIP: ALI IS NOT SINCERE, SOUTH EAST PDP
Some national chairmanship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have expressed doubts on the credibility of the indefinitely postponed national congresses and convention of the party.
At a meeting of the aspirants last Tuesday at the Peniel Apartments, Wuse 11, Abuja , the aspirants wondered how the national leadership of the party could claim they were unaware of the existence of a 21-day notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before they announced the earlier dates for the convention.
They however declared that the postponement offered them the opportunity of exploring the possibilities of presenting a consensus candidate at the party’s national convention billed for next year.
In an 17-point resolution signed by Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu on behalf of the other members, they resolved “to work together in harmony and mutual co-operation as members of one political family towards the emergence of a credible national chairman based on the principles of justice and fairness and in accordance with the wishes and desires of the members of the party as will be expressed by the national delegates to the special national convention of the party”.
According to them, “it is difficult for any right-thinking person to imagine that a party with tested leaders and star studded legal department did not know that they are required by law to issue a 21-day notice to INEC before the commencement of the now aborted congresses.
“We hoped that who ever was responsible for exposing the party to such international embarrassment and ridicule would have been sanctioned by the NEC meeting”.
They claimed that “we have it on authority that the outgoing national executive committee has planted their stooges as chairmen and members of the Federal Boards so that who ever is coming in as the next chairman will be idle and left with no input in the formation of government and the boards”.
Calling on President Umar Musa Yar’Adua to show more interest in the emergence of the consensus candidate, the meeting noted that it was because, “the choice we make will determine the political destiny of this nation, our nascent democracy and the success of the vision of this government”.
In the statement, the meeting was attended by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Engr.Ezekiel Izuogu, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, Chief Dan Ulasi,Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu,Chief Noel Agwuoch Chukwukadibia,Dr. Carol Nwosu, Dr.Sam Egwu (who was excused) and Chief Franklyn Ogbuewu (who was represented at the meeting).
They also called on the President to ignore proposals seeking to subvert the zonal formula adopted by the party’s caucus “as this will amount to gross injustice and an invitation to an avoidable crises in the party”.
They also condemned any further postponement of the convention, stressing that it could be tagged “as an act of aggression and premeditated provocation against the South-East”.
Stressing on the need for the convention, the meeting applauded the credentials and profile of the aspirants, saying they will continue to consult among themselves so as to “usher in a new era of stability and purpose-driven leadership for the party”.
They also vowed to break the political jinx which had been the bane of politics in the zone, “by collectively endorsing candidates for the national chairmanship of the PDP through a process of consultation and dialogue without violating the rights of anyone to contest”.