The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ebonyi State chapter has vowed to conduct a credible, fair and violence-free state congress that is slated to hold on Saturday.
The chairman of the party, Fred Udeogu, who made this known while speaking with journalists in Abakaliki, said the party is prepared to elect its state leaders that will conduct the 2023 general elections.
He stated that the party resorted to using private facilities for its congresses and programmes, because it was aware the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, administration in the state, will not grant its request to use government-owned facilities.
Udeogu said security agencies had been notified of the exercise, adding that imposition was dead on arrival.
According to him: “People are not comfortable with the current administration in Ebonyi State, because people are being oppressed. And because of this, people are not happy. As a member of a student union body years back, I still remember what we were told and promised, before the creation of this state.
“If at the end of those promises made to us then and Ebonyi was created and today, we are not enjoying real democracy in the state, then I would say, “How are the mighty fallen?”
“I have the conviction that those who fought for the creation of this state (I mean the founding fathers) are not happy with what is happening in this state.
“For the state congress tomorrow (Saturday), we are ready and prepared. We have written and informed the Nigeria Police Force; the Department of States Services; the Nigerian Army; the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and others. We are aware of how the security situation of the environment is currently and that was why we wrote them, so they can provide security for us. The INEC has also been notified and anything outside this, you are already out of the law.
“And this is not the kind of congress you find in other political parties, where people are forced or imposed on the people against their will. In our party, the PDP, there has never and there won’t be imposition. Anybody trying to foist candidates on party faithful against their will, will have it so hot with himself or herself. We want to allow the party members to choose their leaders.
“We have already secured a venue for the Congress, because we are a law-abiding party. We have avoided Government property or facilities and so we are going to use private facilities in the state. We are very much aware the state government would not even approve any for us, should we decide to use a government-owned property. Even though we know that the National Broadcasting Commission gives all parties the right to use all states and national stations for the programmes, we don’t use the ones in Ebonyi State, because we know how the government operates and it’s very hostile to the opposition. We have been using radio stations in Enugu and others, for the dissemination of our programmes. It is that bad.
“I want you people to appreciate one good thing about this party, the PDP. Right from the time of the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, PDP has been consistent in winning Ebonyi State. I don’t know the secret; we have been winning here and there won’t be a difference come 2023,” he stated.
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