The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has succeded in throwing its constiutents into deep confusion, uncertainty and tension as it has again postponed the dates for its primaries for the 2023 general election.
It was reported that the primaries, which were earlier scheduled to begin today with the election of State Houses of Assembly flag bearers, have been shifted. Accordingly, all other primary elections for other positions have been affected by the postponement.
Although no date has been announced for the commencement of the primaries, there were feelers last night that the exercise may hold on Sunday. An official of the party who spoke in confidence disclosed that a meeting had been fixed for 9:00 pm (yesterday) after which a formal announcement on the new dates would be made.
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Despite the development, feelers from across the states indicated that aspirants have been engaged in last minute manoeuverings towards getting a favourable outcome. This was even as the party yesterday expressed fears that the rising wave of insecurity across the country might have been orchestrated to provide opportunity for tenure elongation for the current administration.
Findings from many states indicated that many aspirants were not convinced that the party would conduct free and fair primaries and have been mounting pressure on the leadership to ensure a level playing ground.
Last Thursday, for instance, several women groups under the auspices of Women Support Women (WSW) marched to the Government House, Enugu, demanding that more women should be accommodated into elective offices in the state through the 2023 general election.
The women, who included some aspirants to the various elective positions in the PDP, told Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi that they were no longer comfortable that the 35 per cent affirmative action had not been fully implemented, insisting that at least 10 slots should be reserved for them in the 24-member State House of Assembly.
Investigations have also revealed that no fewer than 20 women were vying for the State and National Assembly offices under the PDP. This is aside from the 19 aspirants that presented themselves for the governorship position seat in the state.
Out of the 19 governorship aspirants that procured forms, only the member representing Enugu North and South Federal Constituency, Offor Chukwuegbo, has withdrawn from the contest.
Chukwuegbo, who had traversed the nooks and crannies of the state to canvass for delegates’ votes, announced his withdrawal from the race at the weekend, but stated that he would like to retain his current seat at the House of Representatives.
Sources said he decided to quit the governorship race following pressure from constituents and the need to reduce the tension that was already building up in the constituency between his supporters and that of Josef Onoh, another governorship aspirant from the area.
While many pundits saw the move as a right step, the situation is Nkanu East local council was to the contrary, as eight aspirants from the council have insisted on going into the primary election. This was even as two factions emerged from the state chapter of the party after the ward and national delegates congresses, which produced parallel lists that are now before the courts for adjudication.
