The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, on Monday told the aggrieved nine governorship aspirants protesting against the conduct of Sunday’s Ward delegates congress to take their grievances to the party’s Appeal Panel.
The state chairman of the party, Dr Tony Aziegbemi gave the aggrieved persons the marching order at a press conference in Benin City.
The Peoples Democratic Party had on Sunday conducted ward delegates congress across the 192 wards in the 18 local governments of Edo State ahead of the party’s February 22, governorship primary to elect a flag bearer for the party in the forthcoming September 21, gubernatorial election.
Aziegbemi urged the aggrieved governorship aspirants to approach the Appeal panel set up by the party for redress.
The protesting governorship aspirants are Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of the state, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Martin Uhomoibhi, Hajia Hadizat Umoru, Omosede Igbinedion, Earl Osaro Onaiwu and Arthur Esene.
According to him, the nine governorship aspirants have a right to protest but are urged to take their protest to the Appeal panel set up by the National Working Committee of the party.
“The processes put in place for the exercise were transparent, credible and robust. But if there is anybody that is aggrieved either individually or collectively, the Appeal panel set up by the party is there to protest to”, he said.
He also urged the aggrieved governorship aspirants to be mindful of what they say in public, especially to the press, noting that their utterances and actions can undermine the integrity of the party.
Aziegbemi, however, assured that the party will do everything possible to carry its members along, adding that the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, is ever ready to listen to complaints of aggrieved members of the party.
Meanwhile, Aziegbemi disclosed that the Peter Mbah-led five-man Ward delegates congress committee, has cancelled the result of the election in Etsako Central local government area over alleged kidnap of eight electoral officers.
He said the cancellation of the ward delegates congress results for the local government will not substantially affect the outcome of the entire exercise in the 192 wards across the 18 local government areas.
“We had one ugly incident during the Sunday ward delegates congress in the state. Eight electoral officials deployed to Etsako Central local government area were abducted by gunmen at Jattu in Etsako West Local Government Area.
“In spite of the incident, the exercise went on smoothly in the other 17 local government areas.
“In their own wisdom, they decided to cancel the outcome because the result in the locality will not affect the result of the other 17 local governments”, he said.
Aziegbemi opined that the total number of elected delegates to nominate a governorship candidate for the party on February 22, 2024, are 594 and that the number of delegates in the Etsako central local government is 31.
He added that the kidnapped electoral officers have not been released, just as he said that the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki had reported the incident to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), zone 5 and the Inspector-General of Police.
Ward Congress: Take your grievances to Appeal panel – PDP to guber aspirants