By Ayodele Oni
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“It is a Governor Obaseki Congress, not PDP Congress”
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Edo State, has called for a fresh ward Congress due to an alleged manipulation.
The party explained that it has no option than to reject the outcome of the ward congresses conducted last Sunday, which it described as a “Governor Obaseki Congress” and not a “PDP Congress.”
Apart from an alleged manipulation of the Congress, it claimed that thugs were deployed to prevent supporters of nine of the ten aspirants from partaking in the exercise.
The PDP faction, in a statement on Wednesday, also alleged that the materials for the exercise were handed over to the Governor even as State Government officials were used to supervise the Congress.
The statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary, Ogie Vasco,asked the National Leadership to address the issues of the State PDP concerning the alleged malpractices.
“The leaders of the Edo State Chapter of the PDP have rejected in totality the results of the purported ward congresses that took place on Sunday the 4th of February 2024 across the state.
“The results are not a true reflection of what took place, as they only represent a Governor Godwin Obaseki Congress, not a PDP Congress.
“After a cursory overview of the whole charade put up by the state government and certain individuals in the NWC, the leaders in their wisdom have denounced the whole process as a sham marred by acute manipulation.
“In particular, the leaders noticed that:the agents of Governor Godwin Obaseki, made the stipulated venues inaccessible to the other nine aspirants and their supporters by flooding the venues with armed thugs that were hostile and intimidating.
“They would only grant access if an individual was going to vote for the pre-selected delegates in favour of the Governor’s aspirant. Consequently, no voting was conducted in 92% of the stipulated venues.
“The office of the National Organizing Secretary published three conflicting letters on the composition of officers in charge of the congress both at the wards and local government areas.
“The last letter comprised names of serving government officials in Edo and Delta States. This irregular act had earlier been communicated to national leadership of the party by the nine aspirants so affected.
“The materials for the conduct of the purported Congress had been deposited with the state governor who is an interested party in this Congress, for days prior to the stipulated date.
“Where is the fairness the NWC has preached in the various engagements with stakeholders leading to the this Congress? These and other infractions observed need to be addressed properly.
“Consequently, the leadership of the party calls on all party faithfuls to join in the call to right the wrongs of the sham perpetrated this past weekend. And also call for a total cancellation of the exercise.”
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