PDP Cancels Primaries in Ebonyi, Reinstates Okorie As Party Chair

By Nwogha Ndubuisi Andy The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday 31st, May,2022 cancelled the primaries held in Ebonyi State, even as they reinstated Mr Toochukwu Okorie as the authentic state party Chairman.

The party stated this in a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The letter dated May 31, 2022 was signed by the National Chairman, Senator Iyiocha Ayu and National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu. According to the letter, the elections were cancelled because they violated the guidelines of the party. The party national leaders noted that a new date for the elections would be announced shortly

The letter reads: “This is to bring to your kind attention that the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has cancelled the congresses in Ebonyi State which purportedly took place on 2gh May, 2022 for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate”. “The Party also cancelled the gubernatorial congress held on May 29, 2022”. “The congresses were cancelled for violating the guidelines of the Party as the committee that purportedly conducted them did not form the required quorum. “The commission will be informed shortly of the new date for the congresses.” The cancellation follows the recognition of Mr Tochukwu Okorie in another letter to INEC. The cancelled primary election was conducted by Barr. Silas Onu- led faction of the party at the state secretariat. Recall that the party had been enmeshed in leadership tussle since the State Executive election last year in which Tochukwu was declared winner. Also recall was that Barr. Onu challenged the outcome in court and in April the Federal High Court in Abuja sacked Okorie and ordered that Barr Onu be sworn in. However, Mr Tochukwu appealed the ruling in court and the appellate court ordered that the status quo existing before the High Court ruling be maintained effectively ousting Barr Onu. But Onu continued to lay claim to the Chairmanship and even went ahead to conduct the primaries last week amid its announced cancelation. Ifeanyichukwu Odii emerged winner of the governorship primaries even as most of the aspirants boycotted or withdrew from the said election on alleged irregularities that occured during the exercise. In the Senatorial primaries, Senator Sam Egwu and Senator Ama Nnachi were elected by the delegates for Ebonyi North and Ebonyi South zones respectively. Meanwhile,a former Member representing Ezza South and Ịkwọ Federal Constituencynin the House of Representatives, Laz Ogbee clinched the ticket for Ebonyi Central.