The Edo State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Tony Aziegbemi, on Monday, appealed to aggrieved governorship aspirants of the party in Sunday’s ward congress to elect delegates for the February 22 governorship primary election, to approach the appeal panel set up 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, where he described the exercise as “extremely successful”.
It would be recalled that 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 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 place 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.
“And that is why the party in its wisdom has set up an appeal panel headed by His Excellency Senator Seriaki 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 cancelled the exercise in the entire Etsako Central Local Government Area because of the 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 I have 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.”