The political division within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Enugu State, South East Nigeria is deepening after evidences of parallel wards congresses of the three-man delegates elections emerged from last Saturday’s exercise.
Supporters of one of the governorship aspirants in the State have countered the claims of the Chairman of the three-man ward Congress Electoral Committee, Vincent Yandev Amaabi that the exercise was free, fair and transparent, insisting that the ward delegates elections were marred by parallel congresses, manipulations, violence and obvious breach of election guidelines.
There are strong allegations that top government officials led suspected thugs and cultists to disrupt the exercise at several wards, attacking and injuring political opponents.
At Awgu Council Area, the PDP LGA chairman, Okey Udeh and several Party members were attacked by suspected thugs who destroyed video cameras and snatched people’s phones.
Also at Odume Ward 4 in Aninri Local Government Area, a lawyer and candidate for the 3-man delegates election, Ejike Ekpete and one Bertrand Ugwu of Ugbaike, Enugu Ezike LGA, escaped death in separate attacks after persons said to be operating on the instructions of top Local Government Area officials descended on them at the different venues of the congress.
These allegations and many others could not however be independently verified, as the alleged sponsors of the violent actions could not be reached for comments.
Not withstanding, the delegates elections were conducted peacefully at many other wards of the State, though the original result sheets were allegedly not available at the election venues.
At Agba Umana ward in Ezeagu; Mkpunano ward in Nsukka LGA; and Ejuona/Uwani ward as well as Idi/Ogbozara ward, all in Nsukka LGA, PDP supporters were seen queuing behind their preferred candidates in what was described as a peaceful and orderly exercise.
It was also a success story for the supporters of Senator Ike Ekweremadu in Nomeh Ward, Ugbawka Ward and Amechi/Idodo/Oruku Ward of Nkanu East Council Area, where members trooped out to elect their delegates.
A section of the PDP members loyal to Senator Ike Ekweremadu claim they were the only ones who truly mobilised supporters to the designated venues for the congress elections.
Aggrieved Party supporters are accusing the chairman and members of the Enugu State 3-man ad-hoc ward delegates Electoral Committee of conniving with some top Enugu State government officials in manipulating the congress elections and cooking up results at an unnamed hotel behind the Enugu State Government House.
Sources told AIT that petitions with detailed pictorial evidences of wrong doings in the conduct of the exercise have been filed with the National headquarters of the PDP in Abuja.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
