A member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo state, Mr. Lancelot Obiaku, has petitioned the National Chairman of the party, Mr Uche Secondus, over the outcome of the just-conducted delegates election in the state.
Obiaku said that the delegate election which was conducted by a panel headed by a former minister of aviation ,Osita Chidioka, was , marred by irregularities, especially manipulation of the original list and snatching of electoral materials.
He called on the PDP’s national working committee to ensure that those he described as unpopular politicians did not hijack the party structure in the state.
Obiaku said that the attempted burning down of the party secretariat in Owerri on Thursday was perpetrated by those he described as “desperate politicians .”
The petition which was titled ‘Before PDP Loses Imo Again’, said, “It is today a statement of fact than a mere illusion that PDP is not just primed to wrestle power at the centre from the ruling APC and chief oppressors of Nigerians. It is hoped that, all things being equal, the party will take over the leadership of most states of the federation come 2019. “
“However, in Imo State such hopes might be diffusing into thin air if drastic measures are not taken to arrest an emerging monster culpable of once again denying the PDP a passage to the state’s government house. The lightning might just be striking again. “
“I am certain that you are aware that Imo PDP is boiling after the events of the last few days. Following the conclusion of the 3 Ad-hoc Ward Delegates Congress last Sunday, your party’s state secretariat in Imo on Wednesday turned to a protest ground. “
“Several members of the party from a number of wards who were voted delegates on Sunday with their names submitted to the congress committee are shocked and disenchanted that their names were obliterated and replaced with other names in the result released by the committee on Tuesday. It was discovered that in some wards, names were replaced with people who do not belong to that ward; the worst of it being that names of persons who did not purchase the delegate nomination form were found on the result sheets. Again, some wards surprisingly had men throughout, as against the two men and one woman stipulated in the party’s constitution.”
“You will agree with me sir that this is enough to raise question marks over the credibility of the said committee. Hence, it might not be totally wrong if one should insinuate that the committee was on a mission to destroy a rebranded PDP in Imo State. “
“These chances will no doubt be diminished if the national leadership of the party headed by you does not allow Imo PDP members to choose by themselves [without any order from above holding sway] who flies the party’s flag in 2019. As such, if PDP must win the governorship seat in Imo State for the first time since 2003, free and fair primary election must be supported by you. “
He urged the national chairman to ensure that imposition of candidate which had ruined the party in the past did not rear its ugly head again.
