The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Enugu State Chapter has debunked media report alleging that the Deputy Chairman of the Party in the State, Elder David Ajah, is the authentic Chairman of the Party in Enugu State following the resignation of Engr. Vita Abba and appointment of Chief Ikeje Asogwa as the new Chairman of the Party in Enugu State.
According to a statement by the PDP State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, it said that the attention of the Party has also been drawn to the erroneous impression being created by some “disgruntled” elements in the State who are desperately looking for any opportunity to create crisis in the Party for their selfish political ambitions, in an attempt to misinform the public and discredit the legitimate process that was followed by the State Executive Committee of the Party in appointing Chief Ikeje Asogwa as the Chairman of the Party in Enugu State, pending the conduct of election into the said office at a State Congress as provided by the Constitution of the Party.
Reacting to a report in the media alleging that the Enugu PDP is in crisis and that “INEC may reject Enugu PDP Candidates”, the party said that the report is ‘unfounded and baseless’.
The statement read thus: “That contrary to the allegation by the Deputy Chairman of the Party, that he was the right person to convene that meeting of the State Executive Committee, it is on record that Engr. Abba was still the Chairman of the Party as at the time the directive to summon the meeting of the State Executive Committee, was given to the State Secretary of the Party to issue notices of the said meeting in line with Articles 35(1) and 36 (1b) of the Party Constitution.
“That it is spurious for the Deputy Chairman of the Party to allege that he did not preside over the said State Executive Committee meeting that produced Chief Ikeje Asogwa as the new Chairman of the Party. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Consequent upon the presentation of the resignation letter of Engr. Vita Abba on the floor of the State Executive Committee meeting by the State Party’s Legal Adviser, Barr. Emeka Igwesi, whom the former Chairman asked to assist him tender the letter on his behalf, the said Deputy Chairman presided over the meeting, in line with Articles 46(1) and 35(3) (b) of the PDP Constitution.
“That in the course of the meeting, which he (Elder Ajah) was presiding over as the acting Chairman, he directed that the meeting be postponed indefinitely, which was unanimously turned down by the SEC, considering the need to fill the vacancy immediately with another person from the same zone with the former Chairman (the Deputy not being from the same zone with the former Chairman) in line with Article 47(6) of the Party Constitution, pending the conduct of election to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of the former Chairman.
“That Elder Ajah’s outburst is mischievous, embroiled with hidden agenda and a calculated attempt to undermine the integrity of the SEC which is the highest organ of the Party in the State before the State Congress, ably empowered by the PDP Constitution to take the decision it took in appointing Chief Ikeje Asogwa as the new Chairman of the Party in Enugu State, in accordance with the Party Constitution.
“That Enugu State PDP is not an exception where such issues occurred and similar steps were taken by the appropriate organs of the Party at all levels, including the National Executive Committee of our Party.
“That it is not true as alleged by the media report that “INEC may reject Enugu PDP Candidates” over the appointment of Chief Ikeje Asogwa as the Chairman of the Party in Enugu State. The truth is that Chief Asogwa became the Chairman of the Party strictly in accordance with the Constitution of the Party. Also, PDP primaries are organised and supervised by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party through Electoral Committees and not the by the State Chairman of the Party. Therefore, there is no basis for anyone to entertain fears over such allegation, since the correspondence of the Party with INEC in respect of PDP primaries in and Candidates from, Enugu State is being handled by the National Chairman and Secretary of the Party.
“That the Party, therefore, calls on the general public and our Party members and supporters to disregard the false allegations being deliberately peddled by an imposter, the Deputy Chairman over the democratic process taken by the State Executive Committee of the Party in appointing Chief Ikeje Asogwa as the new Chairman of the Party in Enugu State, as it was meant to mislead and distract the Party from discharging its constitutional duties”.
