Stop misinterpreting INEC letter, Abia PDP replies aggrieved aspirants
* Insists that 3-man delegate congress held
By Steve Oko
The confusion in the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over three-man delegate congress, is far from over as the state leadership of the party has told its aspirants claiming that the exercise never held, to stop deceiving members of the public with such claims.
It also accused the aggrieved aspirants of blackmailing the state leadership of the party, insisting that the three-man delegate has been successfully concluded and the lists of delegates submitted to the national leadership of the party in Abuja.
The party was reacting to a press conference held Wednesday in Abuja by major governorship aspirants of the party where they said that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had in a letter marked: INEC/DEPM/CWO/041/III, dated May 13, and signed by Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, confirmed that there was no three- man delegate election anywhere in Abia.
But in a swift reaction, Vice Chairman of the party, Abia North, cum the Acting Publicity Secretary of the party, Elder Abraham Amah, accused the aggrieved aspirants of misinterpreting the INEC’s letter.
Amah in a statement said: “The enquiry which is being misinterpreted only said in the second paragraph that the last correspondence it received from the PDP National Headquarters was the one that scheduled the Abia State Ward Congresses to May 4, 2022,
“The INEC did not say that the Abia State Ward Congress did not hold as being insinuated and it is mischievous to attach such interpretations to a very clear and simple response.”
He insisted that contrary to counter claims by aggrieved persons, Abia PDP has concluded its three-man delegate congress.
“To confirm that the Congresses held on May 6, 2022 as communicated to the State INEC office by the State PDP, a letter from the State Chairman of the PDP, Rt. Hon Alwell Asiforo dated May 4, 2022 stated that the National Working Committee, NWC of the PDP has appointed members of the Abia Ward Congresses Electoral Committee. The sald letter detailed the composition of the Abia State Ward Congresses Electoral Committee and is available as proof that the election actually held.
“Abia State INEC has since acknowledged receipt of the letter with a duly stamped copy dated May 5, 2022 and returmed to the Abia State Party Secretariat.
“In the said letter, the following were named as Chairman and members of the Electoral Committee : Rt. Hon. Kenneth Okon (Chairman); Hon. Nsikak Udoh C, Chief Gaius Anyanwu, Hon. Damian Ozurumba (members); and Mr Remmanuel Okure, Secretary.
“To be very clear, there is no law that says that all communications between the Party and the election umpire, INEC must come from the national level.
“The National Headquarters of the Party communicates with the National Headquarters of INEC while the State Party office communicates with the State INEC office. The State Chairman by writing to the Abia State Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC did not in any way usurp the powers of the National Working Committee, NWC of the Party.
“In times like thls when well meaning Nigerians are making best efforts to ensure we practice true federalism through the devolution of powers, it is surprising that the very people that should uphold the principle of true federalism are the ones kicking against it for selfish ends.
“The Party is using this medium to inform the good people of Abia State that the members of the Abia State Ward Congresses Electoral Committee conducted the free and fair elections peacefully under the supervision of INEC officials in the 184 Wards in Abia State and have since returned the results to the Party Headquarters in Abuja.
“We ask the general public to discountenance the incorrect and false information making the rounds that the Ward Congresses did not hold.
We ask all Party faithful to trust the ability of the State leadership to steer our party’s affalrs and maintain its lead in the state, especially as It concems the 2023 general elactions. “
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