Edo State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, took a swipe at former National Chairman of the Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, describing him as a bull in a China shop. This came as facts emerged, yesterday, night that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, would not monitor Wednesday’s governorship primary being organized by Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State.
The state chapter of the party accused Modu Sheriff of plotting to destabilize the party in the state, which amounted to anti-party activity, and suspended one of the governorship aspirants, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen for one month, over alleged plans to work against the party ahead of the September 10 governorship election. In a statement made available to journalists, yesterday, in Abuja by PDP Edo State Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, the party said: “You will recall that Edo PDP had its governorship primary on June 20, 2016, and three aspirants participated.
‘’The process, which was adjudged free, fair and transparent was, watched live on national television and chaired by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State. “Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was declared winner with 584 votes, while Matthew Iduoriyekemwen scored 91 and Chief Solomon Edebiri 38 votes. “With the successful completion of the primary, the party immediately activated its post primary conflict resolution mechanism by reaching out to the losers of the election in order to assuage their losses in the democratic contest.
“In as much as we tried, we discovered that one of the aspirants was adamant in working against the tenets of our party. His behaviour and utterances immediately after his loss have become not only embarrassing to the party, but also to the vast majority of Edo people, who are yearning for a change of government and party in Edo State. “He has teamed up with the embattled former national chairman of our party and even gone ahead to purchase a kangaroo nomination form for the same governorship slot which he lost just a few days ago.
His behaviour is unacceptable, irresponsible and selfish. “This conduct is not surprising as the State Working Committee has uncovered his unholy alliance with the Governor Adams Oshiomhole led government of Edo State to destabilize Edo PDP in their desperate attempt to retain power in the forth coming election. “At this point, it is pertinent to note that despite this unholy plot, Edo people are wiser and are prepared to effect a change of government by voting in the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the September 10 election .
“At the State Working Committee meeting held on Sunday, June 26, 2016, it was resolved as follows: “All members of the party in the state are enjoined to disregard the antics of Alhaji Modu Sheriff and Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen in their desperate attempt to discredit the outcome of the governorship primary held on 20 June, 2016 at which Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was duly nominated as the candidate of our great party.
“The conduct of Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen in associating with Alhaji Modu Sheriff with the intention to destabilize the party in the state amounts to anti-party activity. Consequently, Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen is hereby suspended from the party for one month, pending further disciplinary action in accordance with chapter 10 of the Peoples Democratic Party Constitution of 2012 (as amended). “For also associating with Alhaji Modu Sheriff with the intention to destabilize the party in the state, Hon Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayima is hereby recommended to be disciplined by the National Caretaker Committee in accordance with chapter 10 of the party’s constitution. “All party members in the state are enjoined to refrain forthwith from associating or in anyway dealing with Alhaji Modu Sheriff, Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and Hon E.J. Agbonayima pending the conclusion of the disciplinary processes now being undertaken by the party. “All those party members said to have been appointed into the kangaroo caretaker committee announced by Alhaji Modu Sheriff are advised to ignore the appointment and stay away from the committee.” However, addressing a press conference last Thursday in Abuja, Sheriff had slated his faction’s governorship primaries for Wednesday June 29, while screening appeal was slated for Friday July 1. He named Hope Uzodinma and Ahmed Gulak as chairman and secretary of the primaries committee respectively.
Sheriff had also claimed that INEC never monitored the primary election conducted by the Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker committee which produced Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as its candidate for the September polls. Deputy Director Public Affairs at INEC, Nick Dazang disputed the claim but stated that INEC was awaiting the judgment of the appellate court which is fixed for July 4 to enable it know which of the factions to recognize. He said: “Even though INEC monitored the recent PDP Primaries, it is awaiting the judgement of the Appeal Court scheduled for 4th July.
The judgement will determine which faction the Commission will recognize.” This is even as facts emerged last night that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, would not monitor Wednesday’s governorship primary elections being organized by the Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the PDP in Edo State. “INEC is yet to take a decision on that even though I learned Alhaji Modu Sheriff has written the commission to say that he intended to hold one (primary),” Dazang told newsmen, yesterday. He also noted that Section 85 of the Electoral Act provided that any party that wished to hold a convention or primaries shall serve the commission a 21-day notice.
However, Dazang recalled that “the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Edo Governorship provides that primaries are to take place between 2nd June and 4th July”. By this design, the Sheriff’s faction has fallen short of the requirement for a 21-day notice on INEC. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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