Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
The National Working Committee (NWC) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set up an appeal panel to look into the grievances, which arose from Sunday’s ward congresses of PDP in Edo State. This followed a protest by nine aspirants.
Edo State Chairman of PDP, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, disclosed the constitution of the panel yesterday, in Benin City, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the Sunday congresses.
Aziegbemi, who was silent on the names of those in panel, said the essence of the panel, which would begin sitting on February 7, was to give aggrieved persons the opportunity to table their objections.
He described the congress as the best he had witnessed since he became a member of PDP in 1998. He also applauded the NWC and other stakeholders for the peaceful and credible conduct of the congresses to elect three ad-hoc delegates across the 18 local government areas and 192 wards of the state.
Aziegbemi, however, condemned the abduction of some officials in Etsako Central, and charged the Inspection General of Police (IGP) to take swift action with a view to investigating those responsible.
He stated, “The exercise was mostly peaceful across the state with only one incident at Jattu, the hometown of the deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, where nine of the officials heading to Etsako Central Local Government Area for the election were abducted.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward delegates election to elect the three ad-hoc delegates have been concluded across the 18 local government areas and 192 wards in Edo State.
“The electoral officers, who concluded the elections, have since returned with results from the election handed over to the electoral committee set up by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
“The process, which was observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and various civil society groups, was reported to be mostly peaceful across the state with only one incident at Jattu, the hometown of the deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, where eight of the officials heading to Etsako Central Local Government Area for the election were abducted.
“The party hereby calls on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to order a swift investigation of the incident and promptly ensure the release of the affected officials, whose families are troubled by the fate of their loved ones.”
