Ward congress: Edo PDP asks aggrieved guber aspirants to approach appeal panel

The Edo State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Tony Aziegbemi, on Monday, appealed  to some governorship aspirants of the party who feel aggrieved over Sunday’s ward congress to elect delegates for the February 22 primary to approach the appeal panel setup for that purpose instead of rushing to the media.

He stated this while responding to questions on the outcome of the exercise at a press conference, describing the exercise as “extremely successful.”

Nine aspirants who had earlier petitioned the national leadership of the party on the process leading to the exercise, on Sunday night, said there was no ward congress based on the way the process was allegedly manipulated that contributed to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State stepping down as the chairman of the election committee.

Reacting to the claim, Aziegbemi said: “I disagree with them because the process we put in pace was very robust, was very transparent, was very credible so I will imagine that whatever issues they have, which they have a right to which we respect, but we disagree with.

“That is why the party in its wisdom has set up an appeal panel headed by His Excellency Senator Seriake Dickson, they are going to be sitting on the 7th of this month so whatever issues they have individually or collectively, the party has set up the appeal panel already and I will urge them to take their grievance there.”

“I will also urge them to be more circumspect when they are granting press interviews because ultimately, the image of the PDP is being battered when they such negative things against the party; because we have always said in the past four years is that PDP must retain its tenancy in Osadebey by November 12th 2024. That has been our driving force and that is why we are bending over to carry as many people, as we can along.” He reiterated.

On the exercise, Azigbemi said the election committee now headed by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state canceled the exercise in the entire Etsako Central Local Government Area because of alleged kidnap of the officials sent to conduct the exercise in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area. He said Etsako central was expected to have 31 delegates out of the expected total number of 594.

“I have been in the PDP since 1999 and I have never seen such organised election and Ihave gone to other states to conduct congresses, yesterday’s congress I dare say is the best that PDP has organised in its history anywhere in this country.”

In the same vein, the Edo Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has commended the National Working Committee (NWC) for the conduct of the Ward delegates election in Edo.

The exercise described by the state PDP as peaceful, credible and transparent was conducted to elect delegates for its forthcoming governorship primaries.

In a press statement issued by Mr. Anthony Anenih, Edo PDP Organising Secretary, the party condermed the alleged adoption of its eight officials who were heading to Etsako Central Local Government Area for the election.

He said: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward delegates election to elect the three adhoc delegates has been concluded across the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 192 wards in Edo State.

“The electoral officers who concluded the elections have since returned with results from the election handed over to the electoral committee set up by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

‘The process which was observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and various civil society groups was reported to be mostly peaceful across the State with only one incident at Jattu, the hometown of the Deputy Governor, Hon. Philip Shaibu, where eight of the officials heading to Etsako Central Local Government Area for the election were abducted.

Continuing: “The party hereby calls on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to order a swift investigation of the incident and promptly ensure the release of the affected officials, whose families are troubled by the fate of their loved ones.

“Edo State chapter of the PDP by this medium express profound gratitude to leaders of our great party, the National Working Committee, the Ward Electoral Committee and all organs of the party for their keen supervision of this process that has resulted in a successful ward delegate election”, he said.