Ahead of the Southwest Zonal Congress of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for tomorrow in Oshogbo, in Osun State, four State Chairmen of the party in the zone have raised the alarm over alleged release of over 150 ballot papers for the election of National Vice Chairman and Zonal Secretary to the group led by the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde.
They alleged that the hatchet job of stuffing the ballot boxes with the illegally released ballot papers was to be supervised and achieved by a certain Senator Anyanwu, from Imo State, who was nominated as Secretary of the Congress Committee by Governor Makinde’s group.
The petition to the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, dated April 10, 2021, was signed by the Chairman of Ogun State, Dr Sikirulai Ogundele, on behalf of the PDP chairmen in Ekiti, Lagos, Osun States, Otunba Bisi Kolawole, Engr Adedeji Doherty and Hon Sunday Bisi respectively.
The chairmen, who demanded that all ballot papers to be used for the congress should be signed by the National Chairman and that they must not exceed the number of delegates, added that Observers/Monitors should be deployed by the party to save the party from impending anarchy.
The petition reads; “I write on behalf of the Chairmen of Lagos, Osun, Ekiti and Ogun States to inform you of the clandestine plot to manipulate the South-West Congress scheduled for Monday, in Osogbo, Osun State.
“We have been reliably informed that over 150 (One hundred and Fifty) ballot papers for the election of National Vice Chairman and Zonal Secretary have been released to the group led by the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, to manipulate the Zonal Congress on Monday. This is coming after the failure of all the clandestine plots to manipulate the delegate lists.
“These ballot papers were said to have been released through the office of the National Organising Secretary by one Prince Adeyemi.
“The ballot papers are to be handed to some selected delegates from Oyo State in particular, to dump in the ballot boxes with the ballot papers to be given to them during voting.
“The hatchet job of stuffing the ballot boxes with these illegally released ballot papers is to be supervised and achieved by a certain Senator Anyanwu, from Imo State, who was nominated as Secretary of the Congress Committee by Governor Makinde’s group.
“Considering the antecedents of Senator Anyanwu, who we learnt has done similar hatchet job back-to-back in more than five congresses of the party, we wish to state that we will not be vigilant, but will resist him vehemently as this Southwest congress is neither for sale nor a paddy paddy business.
“Also, we are not unaware of possible hijack of the congress materials on Monday, especially the result sheets.
“We therefore call on the party to ensure a credible congress by compelling the Office of the National Organising Secretary to make sure that number of ballot papers released and the serial numbers are made public.
“All ballot papers to be used for the congress must be SIGNED by your good-self and they must not exceed the number of delegates.
“All congress materials, especially the ballot papers and result sheets must be inspected agreeable to all aspirants before voting.
“Any attempt to hijack or divert the congress materials will be resisted.
“To us, yesterday’s impunity should no longer be associated with our great party, as nothing other than a free, fair and transparent congress will be accepted.
“In view of this, we request that Observers/Monitors should be deployed by the party to save the party from this impending anarchy.
“In closing, the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr Samuel Ortom, who was agreed to be the Congress Committee Chairman is said to be sending his Deputy. We hope that the Deputy Governor of Benue State will ensure that the uprightness and integrity that Governor Ortom is noted for will manifest in his handling of the congress.”
