ABUJJA – The South-South stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have called on aggrieved members of the party who have left to return to ensure unity and development of the region.
The call is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the stakeholders and elders meeting in Abuja given to newsmen on Thursday.
The communiqué was jointly signed by some members of the PDP South-South integration committee, including Obong Victor-Attah, former governor of Akwa-Ibom state and Don Obot Etiebet, former Minister of Petroleum.
The document was also signed by Mr Edet Nkpubre, former zonal deputy chairman of the party, South-South region.
The communiqué reads: “We want all those who left the party in protest and out of frustration, and who have indicated genuine interest to return to the PDP fold to come back.
The statement said those returning would be re-admitted, re-united and integrated into the party for the good of the party in the state.
It also stated that the local government area congresses that brought the state Chairman of the party, Mr Obong Ekpo into office was faulty in procedure.
The communique stated that since the chairman assumed office, he had demonstrated incompetence and dependence on Governor, Godwill Akpabio in the running of party affairs, and therefore called for his removal.
It alleged that the chairman was holding political meetings in his private residence and also showing undeniable bias in favour of a particular aspirant for the 2015 governorship race in the state.
The stakeholders in the communiqué also called for the removal of the party state secretary, Mr Ibanga Akpabio and the party youth leader, Mr Emmanuel Ekpenyong.
The communiqué also said that the youth leader and the party secretary had joined the state chairman in supporting a gubernatorial aspirant which it claimed was also supported by the governor.
It said that the chairman had contravened the directive of the party that elected party official both from state, local and ward level must not be involved in such endorsement.
According to the communiqué, stakeholders reiterated their resolute stand against imposition of any candidate and urged the national leadership of the party to be firm in establishing a level playing field for all aspirants.
It also urged the national leadership of the party to sanction any National Working Committee members found or established to be aiding and abetting imposition by any person or group of persons.
The communiqué also said that during the congresses and primaries, leaders of the party at all levels and the aspirants or their representatives must endorse the delegates list accordingly.
It said that on the removal of membership registers by the state leadership of the party from the 329 wards to the state secretariat in Uyo six months ago, the stakeholders had resolved not to accept any changes anymore.
According to the communiqué, stakeholders resolved that considering the contributions of party elders in the state and the governor, an integration committee should be allowed to reconstitute the state party executives.
It said that the purpose was to reflect proper representation of the party in Akwa-Ibom state.
The communiqué stated that the integration committee members should include the governor of the state, Godswill Akpabio and former governor of the state and member, PDP Board of Trustee (BOT), Obong Victor-Attah.
Others are former Minister of Petroleum and member, BOT, Don Obot-Etiebet and former National Vice Chairman of PDP, Edet Nkpubre. (NAN) [eap_ad_3]
