The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dismissed claims that a state congress was held in Cross River State, describing any such exercise as illegal, a ‘hallucination and a carnival, insisting that the process had been formally postponed by the National Working Committee (NWC).
The party warned that members behind the purported gathering risk facing disciplinary measures.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Monday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who also serves as Secretary of the Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the National Convention Organising Committee stated that no congress took place in Cross River, Plateau or Kebbi, as the NWC had shifted the exercise after due consideration.
He dismissed reports that party members gathered in Calabar for a congress, saying such an event bore no legitimacy.
Ologunagba explained that congresses should follow a clear process; approval of dates by the NWC and NEC, notification of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC with 21 days’ notice, constitution of an electoral panel to conduct the exercise, and an appeal panel to review disputes, stressing that all these processes, particularly the setting up of an electoral panel have not been done.
Asked if the party would sanction organisers of the alleged exercise in Calabar, Ologunagba says the constitution of the party would be followed for approximate sanctions as he also cautioned against attempts to derail the party’s preparations for its national convention.
Following reports of the National Chairman and the National Secretary sending conflicting correspondences to INEC, the party spokesman dismissed concerns of a crisis, insisting the NWC acted unanimously in postponing the congresses.
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On the role of INEC, he said the party duly notified the commission as required by law.
On comments credited to Professor Jerry Gana suggesting that former President Goodluck Jonathan could contest on the PDP platform in 2027, Ologunagba distanced the party from such speculation.
He urged Nigerians to assess the PDP by comparing the performance of its governors to their counterparts in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ologunagba also updated journalists on preparations for the national convention scheduled for 15–16 November in Ibadan.
He announced that the NCOC had constituted 15 sub-committees, including Electoral, Screening, Screening Appeals, Venue, Transportation, Publicity, Accreditation, Security, Protocol, Medical, Accommodation, Entertainment and Welfare, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Constitutional Amendment committees, to guarantee an inclusive and transparent process.
He noted that congresses had been successfully concluded in Oyo and Adamawa states, while continuity in Cross River was being maintained by the South-South Zonal Working Committee led by Elder Eman Okin until new dates are announced.
The spokesman also highlighted steps to encourage inclusivity, revealing that women aspirants for the Ekiti governorship position were paying only special interest fees to level the playing field.
He assured party members and Nigerians that the PDP remains a disciplined, democratic organisation.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
