Not fewer than 71 members and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi State have rejected the caretaker committee appointed by the National Working Committee.
In a statement released in Abakaliki on Friday, they demanded the replacement of the committee with a new list agreed upon by stakeholders in the state.
The members threatened to resign en masse from the party if their demands are not met, cvording to Daily Post.
This development highlights the ongoing internal conflicts within the Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP, with factions vying for control.
The rejection of the caretaker committee may lead to further divisions and potential implications for the party’s stability in the state.
According to the statement: “The NWC mandated the PDP stakeholders and members present to nominate a candidate each from the 13 local government areas of the state to serve in a new caretaker committee to be immediately inaugurated.
“The Ebonyi State PDP members subsequently made nominations, while the NWC announced that it reserves the right to appoint the Chairman and Secretary from any part of the Southeast.”
However, when the party released the new Caretaker Committee list on Friday, it was discovered that the National Working Committee had replaced the earlier submitted list.
“From the above conduct of the PDP NWC, it is now crystal clear that they are either working as undertakers for the final burial of the PDP in Ebonyi State, or they are being misguided by arch-enemies of the PDP in Ebonyi State.
“We hereby state categorically that if the NWC reneges on the collectively agreed-upon list of the new Caretaker Committee as submitted by the various local government chapters of the PDP in Ebonyi State, we may not have any other option than to resign from the PDP.
“We have sacrificed personal and individual resources and comfort to stay true and loyal to the PDP in Ebonyi State in the face of organised intimidation, harassment and subterfuge plots. It is, therefore, curious that the national leadership of our great party looks reluctant to help the party stay strong in Ebonyi State.”
Those who signed the letter include, Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, the deputy governorship candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections; Senator Michael Amah Nnachi; Barrister Onwe S. Onwe, former acting national secretary of the PDP; Lagos-based business mogul, Chief Julius Amah; and Dr Paul Okorie, a former governorship aspirant.
Others include Hon Chris Usulor, Hon Franca Okpo, Hon Victor Aleke, Chief John Igboke, Chief Ekuma Igbota, Chief Amah Ugo Orji, and Chief Abia Onyike, among many others.
