Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado-Ekiti
THE Ekiti People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship aspirant, Dr. Tope Aluko yesterday raised alarm over alleged plot by the outgoing Gboyega Oguntuase-led State Working Committee (SWC) to manipulate ward congress schedule to start today.
Aluko alleged that the Oguntuase-led exco has been making moves to manipulate PDP authentic membership register by removing and replacing names in favor of its preferred aspirant.
The Ekiti PDP congresses are scheduled to begin today where the party’s ward executives would be elected.
Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the former state secretary of the party claimed the Oguntuase-led SWC has been perfecting plans to foist its preferred candidate as chairman of the party, which he said was antithetical to the wishes of the teeming loyal party’s members in the state.
He vowed to resist any move to impose aspirant by some ‘unscrupulous elements’ within the party hierarchy, saying every contenders must be ready to test his popularity at the congress.
“I wish to bring to the attention of the members of PDP in Ekiti that the Oguntuase-led SWC are making moves to alienate some teeming loyal PDP members from participating in tomorrow’s ward congress to satisfy their paymaster.
“This sad development could be regarded as the highest of impunity and plot to impose chairman on the party. This is the same practice that nearly consumed our party.
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“There is no specific role in the party constitution for the SWC as regards congress. It supposed to be the affairs of the National Working Committee through the congress committee. But I am surprised that the SWC are saying aspirant should return the forms.
“I am not surprised by the desperation being displayed by the Oguntuase-led SWC with a view to foist chairman on the party since their paymasters have realized their preferred aspirant does not enjoy desired acceptability among members of the party”, he said.
In a swift reaction, Oguntuase described the allegations as baseless, spurious and tissues of lies, saying the party does not have preferred aspirant.
He assured that the guidelines set for the conduct of the congresses by the party’s legal framework would be strictly adhered to in ensuring the congress stand the test of credibility and transparency.
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