President Goodluck Jonathan
Less than 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan in Enugu made statements to the effect that all PDP governors who are eligible to seek re-election will automatically fly the flag of the party in the 2011 polls, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja yesterday issued a rebuttal and advised other governorship aspirants “to disregard such statements.”
The party leadership even went ahead to announce members of the panels, which would screen governorship aspirants across the country to determine who is qualified to participate in the primary elections.
The party leadership even went ahead to announce members of the panels, which would screen governorship aspirants across the country to determine who is qualified to participate in the primary elections.
In apparent reaction to President Jonathan’s speech in Enugu where he said: “Changing governors every four years does not encourage development,… you need a responsibly length of time to develop an area,” the PDP in a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Prof. Ahmed Alkali, urged all its members that have obtained governorship election forms to get ready for the primaries.
The party stated that: “For the avoidance of doubts, all positions in the 2011 Primaries are open to all members, who have signified their interests to contest. Our guidelines are very clear that all positions shall be contested for. There is therefore no room for imposition of candidates under whatever guise.
“Aspirants are advised to disregard such statements and concentrate their efforts in participating in the primaries without fear or intimidation.
“To clear all doubts emanating from these insinuations, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, on behalf of the National Working Commit-tee wishes to state categorically that such insinuations are false and unfounded as they have no basis in the Constitution of our great Party.”
PDP said the aspirations of thousands of party faithful, who purchased forms to contest for offices on its platform cannot be truncated by fiat especially under the on-going reforms in the party.
“We have had cause to refute this issue on a number of occasions. The persistence of this rumour is the handiwork of mischief makers who wish to create disharmony within the party”.
“We wish to reiterate here that the NWC is committed to the provision of a level playing field for all aspirants at all levels in our primaries,” he said.
President Jonathan had while commissioning the South-east Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organisation in Enugu given the eligible governors a green light to seek re-election when he said: “I am full of happiness over this commissioning, especially considering that the PDP governors have endorsed, given us the mandate.
“…We have also endorsed them because we believe that a governor that is doing well should be encouraged to do well. Changing governors every four years does not encourage development; you need a reasonable length of time to develop an area,” he added.
Majority of the 26 PDP governors had in Abuja on Thursday endorsed President Jonathan to be the flagbearer of the party with a demand that he should also serve only one term in office.
The president’s endorsement of the governors is believed to be a reciprocation of the governors’ open declaration to support Jonathan, a move aimed at sending a strong signal to his close rival in the party’s primaries, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Also, the PDP in another statement released signed by the national organising secretary, Prince Uche Secondus, released names of chairmen and members of panels that would screen the aspirants as from Monday.
To screen the governorship aspirants in the North-west states of Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina and Zamfara States are Dr. Shetima Mustapha as chairman, Senator Musliu Obanikoro, Col. Austin Akobundu, Mohammed Rafi Omar as members.
For the South-west zone, Senator Florence Ita Giwa will serve as Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Bunu, Mrs. Sarah Dokotri and Dr. Mike Jimeta are members.
The North-central Zone has Chief Ebenezer Babatope as Chairman, Sir Victor Abang, Chief Godwin Bozimo, Azubuike Eze are members.
For the South-south zone, Mohammed Onawo is chairman while Chief Sylvester Okonkwo – Lady Alice Madakii and Apostle Afolabi Aboyewa are members.
The North-east zone has Chief Dan Ulasi as chairman, Senator Yinka Omilani, Mrs. Victoria Lot, Maj-General A.B. Mamman as members. The North-east Zonal Secretary will serve Member/ Secretary.
Former National Chair-man of PDP, Engr. Barnabas Gemade, is the chairman of the South-east screening committee. Members of the committee are Sammy Okpoko, Alhaji Bello Gwandu, Alhaji Nasiru Aliko Koki. The zonal secretaries of the party will serve as secretaries to each of the panels.
The screening kicks off on Monday at the zonal headquarters of the party.
Meanwhile, the NWC has directed that the screening of State and National Assemblies will take place at the State Headquarters of the party nationwide, while all gubernatorial aspirants will be screened at their respective Zonal headquarters.
Source:Thisday
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