Rivers PDP, Aggrieved Aspirants Differ On Allegation Of Non-Issuance Of Nomination Forms
Some aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, recently protested at 10 Aba Road Secretariat of the party, alleging refusal to issue them nomination forms already paid for by the officials of the party.
The Director General of One on One Network, (a political pressure group), Hon. LoveGod Nwaeze, claimed that the aggrieved aspirants actually paid for the forms at the National Secretariat and were directed to go to the state secretariat for collection but the officials at the state secretariat refused to attend to them or show any interest in their case.
He threatened that if the leadership of the party failed to issue the forms to the people that have paid, the party in Rivers State would not have candidates for the forthcoming general elections. He warned the party against what happened to Rivers APC at the last general elections not to be replicated in PDP in the state.
One of the protesters, Boma Elimas from Okrika Local Government on his part, accused the officials of not coming to the secretariat to perform their duties but rather stayed in their comfort zones to administer the forms to favoured contenders and appealed to the party leadership to do the right thing for the party to be at peace.
Mr. Kinikanwo Ogbu, vying for the House of Assembly seat said it would be proper if the party leadership give a listening ear to their cry because there was no time the party reached the decision of consensus.
Augustine Nwigbarale from Khana noted with dismay that the party has no excuse denying them of the forms they paid for and urged the officials to thread with caution so as to avoid anarchy in the party.
The leadership of the party has however, denied the allegation. According to the party all forms were printed and sold at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja as approved by National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
The State publicity secretary, Tambari Sydney Gbara, said the aspirants in the state with the intention to buy forms were directed on how to go about it and obtain their forms, and that no money was paid into the coffers of PDP Rivers State Chapter for nomination forms.
Gbara wondered why those group of persons stormed the PDP Secretariat to make such frivolous claims of paying money to the National Secretariat of the party and were told to come and pick up their forms in Port Harcourt.
He expressed shock over the action of those aspirants who claimed that the party leadership denied them of the issuance of forms and why they waited for the last days of issuing of forms. He urged them to go back to wherever they paid for their forms to obtain their forms rather than disparage the integrity of the party.
Gbara maintained that the party is committed to due process, transparency, equity and rule of law in its processes and enjoined party members and followers to continue to support the party in its avowed determination to build a more united formidable and stronger political organization capable of transforming the society for good.
