By Sam Oditah
Umuahia – The chairmanship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday commenced four hours behind schedule.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abia, who monitored the chairmanship primaries reports that the event slated for 9 a.m. did not start until about 1.10 p.m.
In Umuahia North Local Government the officials and materials arrived at about 12. 40 p.m.
Scores of the delegates, who were seen waiting patiently for the arrival of the officials and materials, expressed concern over the delay in the commencement of the exercise.
“This is a repeat of the experience we had during the ward primaries. It means that the party leadership did not do its home work well,” a delegate said.
NAN reports that delegates from the 20 wards in area began to gather at the venue from 9 a.m.
The situation was the same at Apunmiri, the headquarters of Umuahia South Local Government headquarters, when NAN visited the venue at about 1.30 p.m.
NAN learnt that delegates also arrived the venue as early as 9 a.m., when accreditation for the exercise was slated to commence.
At both venues , there was visible presence of security operatives.
Meanwhile, some local government workers have decried the use of the council headquarters as venues for party primaries.
The Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Don Ubani, attributed the delay in the take off of the exercise to “some logistics problems.”
Ubani said that the party decided to use the local government headquarters because schools were in session and the party would not like to distract the pupils from their studies.
“We found the council headquarters more convenient because schools are in session and we know that workers in the councils are adults and would not be bothered by the exercise,” Ubani said.