IT is still a season of intrigues in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as agitations continued to trail its just concluded primaries in the 36 states of the federation.
The National Working Committee (NWC), which has been inundated with protest letters and petitions over the conduct and outcome of the primaries by most state executives last night began a crucial meeting on how to break the ice over the crises.
The Guardian learnt that the meeting was prompted by the reactions from some states like Anambra and Kogi where the state executive committees, factions and aspirants are on the warpath over the primaries.
Some of the state chapters have rejected outright the re-run governorship primaries scheduled for today.
Although details of the NWC meeting were still sketchy at the time of filing this report, the leadership allegedly resolved last night to go ahead with the scheduled primary elections in Kogi and other states where elections were inconclusive.
According to sources close to the NWC meeting, the party resolved to forge ahead with the plan, arguing "this is fresh election and we shall address other issues that will be raised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).''
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, confirmed that the party would go ahead with the elections as scheduled.
An intervention has also come from President Goodluck Jonathan into the crisis that erupted in Anambra State over the senatorial primary in the state. Two aspirants: Chudi Offodile and Senator Annie Okonkwo are locked in battle over Anambra Central while Andy Uba and Nicholas Ukachukwu are both claiming victory in the senatorial primary conducted by PDP in the state. The President yesterday raised a nine-man panel to resolve the feud.
It was further learnt that the fate of the party in Enugu State where the PDP is torn between immediate past National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo and Governor Sullivan Chime, featured in the NWC parley.
Also yesterday, some PDP leaders from the South East geo-political zone asked the national secretariat to within 72 hours appoint the National Vice Chairman, Chief Olisa Metuh as Acting National Chairman in compliance with the zoning principle of the party.
Some stakeholders of the party, who issued the ultimatum, faulted the appointment of the Deputy National Chairman, Alhaji Haliru Bello Mohammed as Acting National Chairman following the resignation of Nwodo.
They noted that rather than empower Mohammed, the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) should have respected the party's zoning arrangement as contained in its constitution and accordingly empower the highest ranking party official from the South East to act as national chairman pending the election of a substantive boss.
In a protest letter addressed to the PDP Board of Trustees Chairman and former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and signed by Chief Tagbo Ike, counsel to the party members drawn from Abia, Imo, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi, the national leadership was asked to comply with Article 14.5 of the PDP Constitution or risk legal action.
Among the petitioners are Chief George Ibekendu (Anambra), Victor Imediegwu (Abia), Ali Egwu (Ebonyi), Paul Ogbonna (Enugu), and Chief Tony Okoroafor (Imo).
In the petition copied to Mohammed and Metuh, the aggrieved party members said they were compelled to issue the ultimatum because of the "legal oddities and absurdities now existing in the party."
They said: "On January 18, 2011, the erstwhile National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo formally resigned from office, and which resignation was duly accepted in a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of your party held the same day, and thus ensued vacancy in the office of the national chairman.
"At the said meeting of the NEC of your party, the NEC purported to have empowered the National Deputy Chairman of your party, Dr. Haliru Bello Mohammed to act as the national chairman pending when the vacancy shall be filled by your party.
"That decision of NEC is as void as it is illegal and a gross violation of the Constitution of Peoples Democratic Party, 2006 (as amended)."
They urged the party's BoT to do the right thing by appointing Metuh as the Acting National Chairman within 72 hours of the receipt of the petition.
"Take notice that if you fail to re-direct your party to the path of legal rectitude as herein before demanded, we shall carry out our clients' instruction to seek legal redress against the party and its officials."
Meanwhile, former Senate President Ken Nnamani has said leaders and stakeholders of the PDP in Enugu State are opposed to the state government because Chime is running a one-man show.
Nnamani told The Guardian yesterday that lack of recognition for the elders, inability to allow the people chose their leaders as well as the winner-take all syndrome, which he said was planted during the administration of Chimaroke Nnamani and being perpetuated by the incumbent government, were responsible for the crisis in the party.
He said that the refusal of the administration not to allow the people opportunity to exercise their rights even in democracy has adverse effects on the leadership of the state, stressing that Enugu had become very unlucky with leadership.
"There is a reign of impunity in Enugu State PDP planted by somebody during the last administration which has germinated in the present government. The crisis in the party for me, is ill advised and I say this because, if those in the leadership recognise the fact that there are leaders and elders in this state and accord them their due respect, these things won't go on.
"That some of us decided that we won't run for anything does not mean that we are totally irrelevant and should be treated as nobody in the state. We believe that we should not be given structures to control and that is why we don't want to show interest in tilting to any faction in this crisis. This is because if you show too much interest in structure, they will say you want to be a godfather and if you say you don't want to show interest, they will say you have been bought over. But we believe that people should be given opportunity to participate in the affairs concerning them and that was why initially we trusted that this government and party have come to bridge that gap. But this is not so."
Nnamani, who said he had not endorsed the governorship aspiration of any of the "candidates" that emerged from the factions of the party, added that the leaders of the state would continue to do all in their ability to ensure transparency and honesty in the state.
Also Chief Hyde Onuaguluchi, said Chime, whom he acknowledged was a product of the party had lost touch with the people, stressing that the leaders believed that having done his best so far, he should give way for another person to come in.
He said: "As leaders, we listen to our people, we try to find out what they want and most people who are opposed to this government are not begging for food. We believe in good governance, we believe in respect to who it is due. The question of political leadership boils down to communicating with people and accepting them. When the people are fed up with you, a responsible leadership will tell you have lost it.
"Sullivan Chime is a product of all us of and we are not bothered as at now whether he won election by fair and free means. But we just think the electorate have lost touch with him and we say he has done his best, and since it is below the expectation of the people, it is our duty to call on him to quit and give opportunity for any person to try his luck."
As claims and counter claims trail the governorship ticket of the PDP in the state, Chime has described reports that Chief Anayo Onwuegbu is the genuine candidate of the party as "laughable."
Onwuegbu, who received a tumultuous welcome from supporters of the party last weekend when he arrived Enugu, had emerged a candidate after the primary of a faction of the party held on January 15.
His aspiration alongside others was said to have received the endorsement of stakeholders and leaders of the party in the state over that of the state governor.
Reacting to the development yesterday, Chime described those behind the reports as "dreamers," stressing that "nobody can take the PDP ticket from him in the state."
The governor, who spoke at a special prayer session at the Government House to herald the New Year, maintained that he was the only recognised standard bearer of the party in the April election, adding that he had already filled and filed the necessary forms with the Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC).
Source: PDP insists on fresh primaries, Nnamani, others battle Chime (http://ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36508:pdp-insists-on-fresh-primaries-nnamani-others-battle-chime&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)