One of the Aspirants for the position of National Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Mini Convention which comes up next month, Mrs Chika Ibeneme has made it clear that nothing will make her step down for any contestant.
Speaking to Journalists, Mrs Ibeneme who hails from Anambra State, disclosed that she was asked to step down by the party leaders in the last convention cancelled by INEC, for Dr Mrs Kema Chikwe to emerge. But this time she will slug it out with whoever is interested in the position, she said.
She maintained that the automatic return of all those that resigned in the former Executive, as proposed by the party hierarchy is not democratic and therefore asked that the contest be thrown open.
“The fortunes of the PDP will be greatly enhanced if the contest is thrown open” Ibeneme declared. She continued, “I am in the race to be elected PDP National Woman Leader because I know that I can do it” she maintained.
The current stance of Mrs Ibeneme has thrown more confusion into the camp of Dr Kema Chikwe who wants to return to the position she vacated following INEC’s declaration that she and twenty other officers emerged without following due process.
In the first convention, many candidates, including Bar Mrs Nnanna Okoro (now Commissioner in Imo state), came up to challenge Chikwe, but the powers that be prevailed on all the Aspirants to step down for Chikwe.
However, Chikwe emerged unopposed and her short stay, many of the women said, was dotted with high handedness, with accusations that the former Ambassador ran the office as a personal estate.
Therefore, the fear now is that if the seat is thrown open, Chikwe may not make it as the odds are staked against her. INEC has insisted that all PDP Executive members must emerge through a proper congress by the Ballot Box.
Unfortunately for the former Minister, the likes of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who plotted Chikwe’s emergence, have been shoved off the party hierarchy as the former President is at logger head with his former prodigee, President Goodluck Jonathan, who wants to retain his office in 2015 election.
Already, Senator Hope Uzodinma has capitalized on the opportunity to slot in his puppet, Hon (Mrs) Nwaneri, as the Acting National Woman Leader of the PDP.
Apart from Mrs Ibeneme who has come out openly to challenge Chikwe, Mrs Nwaneri is said to be warming up to contest in the convention, which has expanded Chikwe’s foes the more.
With the latest development, there is the likely hood that Mrs Kema Chikwe may not return as the PDP National Woman Leader, as the Presidency has used the latest scenario to dump all those in the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, seen as anti Jonathan 2015.
Chikwe fell into this category simply because she was Obasanjo’s candidate. Obasanjo who has shown that he is not supporting Jonathan’s second term bid.
