The decision of the National Executive Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ratify the governorship candidates of the party as earlier submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sparked another round of bickering between the two faction battling for control of the party in Ebonyi state. This is as the two aspirants battling for the governorship candidature of the party, Senator Obinna Ìgba and Mr. Ifeanyi Odii, continue to disagree.
The party in a communiqué issued at the end of its 97th NEC meeting on Thursday at the National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza Abuja, announced the ratification of the list of candidates submitted to INEC by the National Working Committee of the party. The communique signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba also congratulated the candidates of the party on their emergence.
“NEC unanimously ratified the list of candidates of the PDP as submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the NWC. NEC also congratulated all the Governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly Candidates of the PDP for their emergence as flagbearers of our Party at various levels”, the communiqué said.
Odii, who emerged from the 29th May primary of the party hailed the decision while Ìgba, who emerged from the June 5 primary argued that the decision is not applicable to the Ebonyi State situation which is still a subject of court litigation. Reacting to the NEC’s decision, Mr. Silas Ìnå, a factional chairman of the party and staunch supporter of Odii, said the decision has confirmed Odii as the authentic governorship candidate of the party.
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He noted that Odii is the candidate whose name was displayed by INEC last month as the party’s candidate adding that time for substitution has since passed. He said: “By the decision of NEC yesterday the 8th of September, 2022, it is abundantly clear that the party has decided to work with the primary of 28 & 29 of May, 2022. Needless to state that the names submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the NWC are those of the primaries conducted on 28th and 29th of May, 2022.
“For the purpose of further emphasis, May I, once again, refer to a holding in the court of appeal decision in the appeal by Sen. Joseph Obinna Ogba delivered on 1st September, 2022 to the effect that neither the Court nor INEC can decide a candidate for the political party. So, the PDP has decided and very clearly too”.
But Senator Ìgba in a reaction disagreed with Ìnå, arguing that the court will have the final say on the matter. Ìgba in a statement by his Media Aide, Godfrey Chikwere argued that cases before courts of competent jurisdiction are not part of those ratified by the NEC. “Those celebrating NEC ratification of candidates across the country and they have pending court judgement fixed at the apex court for hearing and possible judgement on 14th September are like the proverbial man who is busy chasing rats while his house is engulfed by fire.”
“PDP in Ebonyi and at the national level handed over her power to court concerning Ebonyi, Kano, Ogun and Delta State and court will give them direction soon. On 14th, September 2022, less than seven days from today, the supreme court will decide for PDP who is their authentic candidate in Ebonyi between Ogba and Odii. Until the Supreme court gives judgement, every other thing you are doing including celebrating yesterday’s NEC meeting is simply playing with your emotion and blood pressure. Only a fool, no matter how learned the fool may be, makes jest of a matter pending at our revered Supreme Court”, he said.