The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Imo State chapter, Sunday, reacted to allegations levelled against the party by Mr. Patrick Ndubueze, one of the aspirants, who participated in the party’s primaries for Okigwe senate.
Ndubueze had alleged that a small cabal within the party and led by the Chairman, Charles Ugwuh, favoured one of the aspirants in the contest for the party’s ticket for Okigwe Senatorial race.
A statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Ogu Bundu Nwadike and sent to INNONEWS, the PDP expressed surprise at Ndubueze’s action, because “he participated in the Primary and has not filed a suit challenging the process of the primaries”
Part of the statement reads “That in compliance with INEC Time table and schedule for the Imo North Senatorial bye election to be held on the 30th October, 2020, the PDP made a publication wherein it called on all qualified persons who intend to seek the party’s nomination process to purchase the appropriate nomination forms”
“That at the end of the exercise, two prominent sons of Okigwe zone, Hon.Patrick Ndubueze C. and Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu purchased the Nomination Forms.
According to the statement, Engr.Charles Ugwuh led executive held a meeting with the two aspirants which was witnessed by their chosen aides and agents of trust, where they made an undertaking to accept the outcome of the primaries.
“Hon.Patrick Ndubueze paid all the necessary fees and participated in the primaries scoring 27 votes against his rival Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu who scored 609 votes to emerge the winner.
The PDP said it is shocked at Ndubueze’s “sudden summersault and claim that he did not participate at the primaries”
“That Hon Patrick Ndubueze even tried to prevail on the party leadership to compel his co aspirant to withdraw and make way for him to stand alone and be adopted as sole aspirant of the party. However the party refused and insisted on giving all aspirants equal opportunity to compete at an open and transparent primary election”
The party said Mr.Ndubueze’s request “amounted to a breach of the party’s constitution and would engender injustice to the other aspirant especially when he is resolute on contesting.
“That the party, therefore, finds it strange that Hon.Ndubueze whose attempt to prevail on the party to use same party delegates to adopt him as it’s sole candidate, would turn around claiming to be dissatisfied with the processes of the delegate congresses which culminated into the primary election”
The PDP stated that the State Chairman, Charles Ugwuh, will “take all necessary steps to reconcile those who are not happy with the outcome of the primaries, especially now that a winner has emerged”
It also said it has no record of service of “any court process or suit from Hon Patrick Ndubueze and cannot comment on something that has not been served on it”
