Party Primaries: PDP Delegates Disassociate Selves From Participating On Rescheduled Election In Ebonyi

By Alo David, Abakaliki The three-man ad hoc delegates for the primary Elections of the People's Democraxtic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Sunday, said it resolved not to be part of the rescheduled primaries for June 4 and 5 of the party in the State.

The delegates in a press conference held in Abakaliki on Sunday, decried the ongoing repeat of primary elections, noting that they would not be part of it or participate in the exercise. Recall that the party had on May 28 and 29 elected candidates on various positions of the party to fly their flag in Ebonyi State come 2023 general election. The positions elected include: the State House of Assembly, House of Representative, the Senate and the gubernatorial seats. The Federal High Court in Abuja had on April 13 sacked Mr Tochukwu Okorie as Ebonyi PDP Chairman and declared Mr. Silas Onu as Chairman of PDP Ebonyi State, whose Leadership the primaries were conducted. Meanwhile, after the primaries, the PDP's National Working Committee (NWC) annonced the cancellation of the primaries and rescheduled another one for June 4 and 5 in the state. One of the delegate, Mr Okorie-Chukwumaobi Okorie described the repeat primaries as "unconstitutional" and added that he would not join in another rescheduled primary elections of the Party. Okorie said that the primary elections of May 28 and 29 were acceptable by the candidates and warned against those impersonating with their names in the fresh primaries. "The already conducted primaries election was done and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the PDP's rules and guidlines. "The three-man ad hoc delegates from the 171 wards of Ebonyi have elected the candidates of our choice on May 28 and 29. And as such, we are not part of any repeat primaries of June 4 and we are not going to be part of the june 5 exercise," he said. Okorie further emphasized on the danger of conducting double primaries in Ebonyi State and called on the PDP NEC to save the party from a looming danger of not producing candidates for 2023 general elections in Ebonyi State. Mr Daniel Onuoha, another delegate added that the primary elections conducted on May 28 and 29 were witnessed by INEC, security agencies and the media and stated that he would not go for any repeat primaries. "The already conducted primaries was described as the most credible, transparent and free and fair one in the recent time. No breach of electoral and party guidlines and no rancour among members of the party. "It was very surprising hearing that NWC have canceled and rescheduled another party primaries. We cannot be part of any repeat elections. "I will not allow those impersonating with my name to go unpunished. We have elected the candidates of our choices on May 28 and 29. "If an election was conducted and you feel that you are not satisfied, the simple thing to do is to approach the court," Onuoha explained. Also, Mrs Regina Iteshi, a delegate said he would sue anybody impersonating with her name in the rescheduled fresh primaries in Ebonyi. Ends