Crisis hits Kaduna PDP over choice of gubernatorial aspirant

THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Kaduna state chapter is currently hit by crisis as a result of allegations of imposition of an aspirant ahead of the party’s primary next week.

The allegation was made by the Governorship Aspirants Unity Forum comprising of Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Muhammed Sani Bello and Dr Shuaibu Idris Mikati. They disclosed this during a press briefing in Kaduna on Friday.

Speaking on behalf of the aspirants, Ahmed Maiyaki remarked that the forum met, deliberated and took unanimous decisions for the love and progress of the party and the state.

To this end, he said, “The Forum deems it a duty to intimate the national leadership of our great party, teeming party members, supporters and the general public on the following concerns;

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According to their spokesman, ‘Prior to and after losing the 2015 general elections, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has never been a more ‘cherished bride’ with the prospects of winning almost all the elective posts in Kaduna State than now with more people willing to join and participate actively in rescuing our state and the nation at large.

“As Democrats, the Forum insists that power must truly return to the people through open and transparent process anchored on internal democratic process in our great party.

Maiyaki also observed with dismay the deliberate attempt to subvert the democratic process ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial primaries slated for the 28th of September, 2018.

He disclosed, ‘Forum condemns strongly the activities of the Kaduna State Chairman of our Party, Hon Felix Hassan Hyet, who has openly attached himself to one of the gubernatorial aspirants, which is against the norm and the principle of fair play.

“He has, without a sense of decorum, been openly working against the aspirations of the other gubernatorial aspirants in favour of his ‘anointed candidate’ because he has been promised the position of a running mate (Deputy Governor).

“After the recent congresses in which ad-hoc delegates were elected, the State Chairman threw caution to the wind by tempering with delegate lists of several Local Governments areas sent to the State Party Secretariat to the advantage of his ‘anointed one’.

“There is great tension in the State as a result of the partiality of the Party Chairman; whereby the bright prospects of “bringing back” Kaduna State to the PDP is in jeopardy.

“Forum further notes, the attempt by the Party Chairman to surreptitiously foist the preferred candidate using a certain group called “Southern Kaduna Stakeholders Chairmen Forum”.

“This act is capable of destabilizing the party and its prospect in the 2019 polls and undermining the efforts of the aspirants to find consensus among themselves.

In view of the above, the Forum humbly requests the National leadership of our great party to take “full charge” of the Party’s activities in Kaduna State, in order to rescue the situation and restore the confidence of the majority of party members and loyalists in the state once more.

“The Forum also calls on teeming party members, delegates and supporters to resist all attempts to subvert democratic process and vote for aspirants of their choice.

However, when contacted, the state chairman of the PDP, Hassan Hyet remarked that the allegations levelled against him were false.

Also, the immediate past Caretaker Committee Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi denied that he has anointed any aspirant, saying, all he was after is for the party to win all available positions.