Even as the primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Imo State, are four months away, a list of those who will elect the aspirants to become candidates is said to be out, even before the delegate elections could hold at the various political wards in the state.
The purported list is said to have emanated from the PDP state office, Okigwe road, Owerri, which has been causing untold unease in the wards since last week.
Even though sources have described the list as fictitious and fake, yet numerous followers of the party have not been assuaged as the grassroot, still believe that the “Leopard can not change its colour” since the PDP is allegedly noted for “producing” lists through a few big wigs of the party, and forced down the throat of the poor members.
However, feelers coming from the Wards indicate that there may be a revolt which may affect the fortunes of the PDP in the 2015 election, if the lists of delegates for the primaries do not comply with the expectations of the masses, through an election.
As at last week there was the story that politicians, especially those contesting for various elective positions in the state have been writing names and sending to Abuja for final ratification.
This development has fuelled anger and suspicion between Imo PDP members and their leaders, leading to confrontations in some LGAs, while the state Executive members of the party are accused of being part of the manipulation to “produce” delegate lists with out elections at the Ward levels.
However, the general feeling of PDP members at the grassroots is that the delegates should emerge through elections at the Ward levels, or each Ward goes home to produce their delegates based on whatever agreement that is reached by the leaders at the wards, not from leaders from different wards outside the wards. But a situation whereby top politicians seat down in Owerri to produce lists, will be resisted through anti party activities during the main election, says the PDP members at the grassroots.
Meanwhile, there was trouble last week in parts of Owerri zone where lists were said to be flying about allegedly compiled by PDP top shots at state party secretariat, Owerri.
However, the PDP has not released the guidelines through which the delegates will emerge, or how many people will emerge in each ward, yet lists are said to be compiled by PDP Big men, with those opportuned to be close to be party hierarchy.
Reacting to the development, the Acting Publicity Secretary of the state arm of the party, Chief Enyinnaya Onuebgu in a phone interview dismissed the insinuation adding that the PDP in Imo is not aware of such under ground exercise.
According to Onuegbu “PDP in Imo as a loyal chapter has not received or be given a signal and directive over delegate lists.
The party guideline for 2015 election has not been released and made public to the members for scrambling of delegates.
In the absence of the list how can anybody be talking about delegates? There is nothing like that in the party”.
Speaking further on the issue, Onuegbu said that there is no rift in the party resulting from the contest for delegates stating that what the party focused on in recent time is mobilization and marketing for party membership under the able leadership of Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie. Onuegbu further intimated that the matter will be free and fair when guidelines are released, urging party members to go about their normal businesses.
Onuegbu however warned party members that proper disciplinary measures are still in place to tackle issues likely to cause breach of peace within the party.
