Fresh primaries: PDP in dilemma over Adamawa, Bayelsa, others

Posted by admin Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross River, Headlines, Kogi, Party Politics, Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), Sokoto, State News Monday, August 8th, 2011

Ahead of Wednesday’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a web of intrigues has entangled the party as it prepares to take a definite stance on the propriety or otherwise of fresh governorship primaries in five states under its control where governorship election will be conducted between December this year and July 2012.

The states are Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross River, Kogi and Sokoto.

Governors Murtala Nyako, Timipre Sylva, Liyel Imoke, Ibrahim Idris and Aliyu Wamako had gone to court, and, secured judgment in their favour that their tenures did not expire in 2011 following their respective victories in the re-run elections held at various times after their elections were upturned by relevant Appeal Courts.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, last week, announced dates for governorship elections in these states, including Edo.

But in a move aimed at preventing fresh governorship primaries, the affected governors have commenced intense lobby ahead of the PDP NEC meeting on Wednesday which will be preceded by that of the National Working Committee (NWC), to ensure that, “subtle internal mechanisms are deployed by the party” to stave off the idea of fresh primaries being canvassed by certain power brokers close to the presidency.

Preparatory to the NEC meeting, the North-Central zonal leadership of the PDP is meeting today in Minna, the Niger State capital to take a position.

Already, Kogi, the only state in the zone affected by this development, is canvassing support to sustain the Jubrin Isah/Clarence Obafemi ticket, just as it is insisting that there is no existing law which requires them to undergo fresh primary, State Legal Adviser of the party, Umar Mohammed, averred in a statement.

-Tribunewp_posts