The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) informing them of cancelled primaries held in Ebonyi State last month.
The party stated this in a letter dated May 31, 2022, and signed by the National Chairman, Senator Iyiocha Ayu and National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu.
The letter said the elections were cancelled because it violated the guidelines of the party.
It stated that a new date for the elections will be announced shortly.
The letter reads in parts : “This is to bring to your kind attention that the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has cancelled the congresses in Ebonyi State which purportedly took place on 29 May 2022 for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate”.
“The Party also cancelled the gubernatorial congress held on May 29, 2022”.
“The congresses were cancelled for violating the guidelines of the Party as
the committee that purportedly conducted them did not form the required quorum.
“The commission will be informed shortly of the new date for the congresses.”
“The Party also cancelled the gubernatorial congress held on May 29, 2022”.
“The congresses were cancelled for violating the guidelines of the Party as
the committee that purportedly conducted them did not form the required quorum.
“The commission will be informed shortly of the new date for the congresses.”
The cancellation follows the recognition of Mr Tochukwu Okorie in another letter to INEC, while the cancelled primary election was conducted by the Silas Ọnụ- led faction.
The party has been embroiled in a leadership tussle since the State Executive election last year in which Tochukwu Okorie was declared the winner.
Silas Onu however challenged the outcome in court and the Federal High Court in Abuja sacked Okorie paving the way for sworn in. Tochukwu Okorie then appealed the ruling in court and the appellate court ordered that the status quo existing before the High Court ruling be maintained effectively ousting Onu.
Silas Ọnụ despite the ruling continued to lay claim to the Chairmanship and went ahead to conduct the primaries last week.
Chukwuma Ọdịi emerged winner of the governorship primaries even as most of the aspirants boycotted or withdrew from the said election.
In the Senatorial primaries, Senator Sam Egwu and Senator Ama Nnachi were elected by the delegates for Ebonyi North and Ebonyi South zones.
A former Member representing Ezza South and Ịkwọ Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Laz Ogbee clinched the ticket for Ebonyi Central.
With the cancellation, the crisis in the party is set to continue even as time is running out for the party to elect its candidates for the 2023 elections.
