May 27, (THEWILL) – Forum of Ebonyi State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) house of assembly aspirants, have raised an alarm over possible implosion of the party in Ebonyi State, prior to the 2023 general elections.
A press statement signed by Hon. (Chief) Steve Rodstick Eze, Chairman of the Forum, Secretary, Barr. Ugboh Moses and two others, titled, ‘Urgent Need To Rescue Ebonyi PDP, call for an urgent intervention of the NWC’, said they were trying to save the party from impending implosion.
They said over 70 persons aspiring for Ebonyi state house of assembly seats bought forms, filled, and submitted and got cleared, and lamented that the house of assembly primary election, which was first scheduled on May 7th, 2022, has been postponed for three (3) times.
The statement reads: “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 apparent impending implosion of the PDP in Ebonyi State.
“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 2023 general elections. Over 70 persons aspiring for Ebonyi State House of Assembly seats bought forms, filled, submitted and got 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 for 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 these tumultuous and harrowing days 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 highest bidders, causing those who have stood firm with the party in trying times to be frustrated out of the party, a situation that is causing 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 over emphasised 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 the current crisis that has thrown millions of PDP faithfuls 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 National Working Committee of the PDP responsible, should Ebonyi State fail to field Candidates for various positions in the 2023 general elections”, they stated.
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
