TheCable

Tony Aziegbemi, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state, has asked governorship hopefuls who are aggrieved about the conduct of party’s congress to approach the appeal panel.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Monday, Aziegbemi said the congress was the most transparent delegates’ election conducted by the party in the country.

BACKGROUND

On Sunday, the PDP conducted a congress to select delegates that would participate in the party’s February 22 governorship primary.

Before the congress, Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, who was appointed as the chairman of the committee in charge of the election, rejected the appointment.

Makinde said the list of electoral officers for the election contained people from Delta state and officials of the Edo state government.

Nine out of the 11 PDP governorship aspirants, including Philip Shaibu, deputy governor of the state, boycotted the exercise.

The aspirants rejected the composition of the committee that would conduct the delegates’ election.

‘COME UP WITH EVIDENCE THAT EDO PDP SUPPORTED ANY CANDIDATE’

Speaking during the interview, Aziegbemi asked the aggrieved aspirants to present evidence that the party has a preferred candidate for the governorship ticket.

The Edo PDP chairman said many of the governorship hopefuls did not campaign at the ward and senatorial district levels.

He said those who are dissatisfied with the process can approach the party’s appeal committee, headed by Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, on February 7 to state their grievances.

“We went out of our way to make sure that we did the right thing, according to the guidelines of the party,” Aziegbemi said.

“This congress that was held yesterday in Edo is adjudged to have been the most credible and transparent congress in the annals of the PDP in this country.

“I imagine that after every election, people are not happy with the result. I get that. That is why we have an appeal panel.

“My idea is that they should go to the appeal panel on February 7 and bring out all their grievances instead of coming out to the media after an exercise, which is the best organised in the history of this party They should conserve their energy and get to the appeal panel.

“I challenge any aspirant to come up with concrete evidence to say the party here in Edo state, did something specific to favour any aspirant.”