Controversy trails PDP congress in Rivers, Kogi

Dennis Naku, Gbenga Odogun and Patrick Odey

Controversy has trailed the conduct of the Peoples Democratic Party congresses in Rivers and Kogi states.

The party, however, successfully conducted its ward congress to elect new ward executives in Akwa Ibom State.

A Rivers State High Court presided over by Justice Charles Wali had, on Friday, barred the party, its National Chairman, Iliya Damagum, and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, or their agents from gathering anywhere in Rivers State to hold ward, local government, and state congresses, pending the determination of the suit before the court.

Justice Wali further directed the Inspector General of Police, the state Commissioner of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Service, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to enforce the order.

The suit was part of the protracted political battle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The governor was allegedly frustrated when the PDP National Working Committee accepted the list of caretaker committee members submitted by allies of Wike and, at a meeting with federal lawmakers last month, he said the “PDP has failed us.”

Against the court’s order stopping the congress, our correspondent reports that the exercise was held and new executives emerged from the process.

A member of the National Assembly and spokesman of the G-60 lawmakers in the House of Representatives, Ikeaga Ugochinyere, in his reaction, said no ad hoc ward congresses of the PDP held in Rivers State on Saturday.

Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in Port Harcourt, at the end of a three-day retreat by the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream and Down-stream.

He said defying a court order that barred the congresses from holding and going ahead with the exercise rendered the outcome of whatever happened a nullity.

“There is a subsisting order of a court a few days to this issue of congress that that exercise can no longer hold. But he decided in his desperation alongside his supporters to gather themselves in their hideout and conduct what I call a kindred meeting.

“So what the Wike group held yesterday (Saturday) in the name of congress is nothing but a kindred meeting. In Igbo, we call it ‘meeting ummuna’. It doesn’t go anywhere, it ends there.

“They are talking to themselves and it’s a nullity. As long as there was a subsisting order and he proceeded to do it, the court in question will void whatever is the outcome of the exercise,” he said.

He insisted that the 27 lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister had lost their seats automatically for defecting to the All Progressives Congress because there was no crisis in the PDP when they took that decision.

In Kogi State, the Senator Danjuma Laah-led Caretaker Committee said the decision to suspend the exercise became necessary after hoodlums and unidentified thugs invaded the state secretariat and made away with sensitive electoral materials.

In a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the caretaker committee, Chief Dayo Akande, on Sunday, the effort was in collaboration with the congress committee chairman, Hon Boyelayefa Debeleme.

The statement said the impersonators came with one 18-seater bus and other vehicles without any means of identification.

“All these happened in the presence of the Independent National Electoral Commission observer. These unauthorised persons went away with all sensitive materials meant for the congress across the 239 wards of the 21 LGAs of the state,” the statement read.

The committee condemned the act and urged the INEC as well as other institutions to disregard any purported result that might emanate from the illegal exercise.

Speaking at his Ibiakpan Obotim Ward 2, in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area on Saturday, Eno saluted the PDP faithful in the state and urged them to sustain their dedication and commitment to the party’s success.

While expressing satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the congress, the governor charged the newly elected executive members of the ward to be committed and dedicated to the growth of the party and its members.

He also tasked them to work towards future successes of the party in the state

“From the report we have received across the state, the ward congress went well and all the party guidelines and principles were observed.

“We have our party representatives from Abuja, independent observers as well as INEC around. All the requirements were met. It’s been a very peaceful congress and we trust God that this is how it will continue. The large turnout is a sign of future successes and confirmation of our party leadership,” he said.

The Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, lauded the party for ensuring every member had a sense of belonging, which, he said, reflected in the massive show of support and love during the congress.

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Udeme Otong, affirmed that the outcome of the PDP congress was the confirmation that Akwa Ibom remained a stronghold of the PDP, expressing confidence that the party would continue to record overwhelming success in elections.

The state Chairman of the party, Elder Aniekan Akpan, described the outcome of the ward congress as very peaceful and smooth, affirming the readiness of the party to participate and win the upcoming local government elections.