PDP rejects new party primary in Ogun

The national executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disavowed a new primary election led by a group loyal to a party aspirant in Ogun State, Jimi Lawal.

The party disassociated itself from the primary election with a warning sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and obtained Friday by PREMIUM TIMES.

“We are writing to draw the attention of the Commission to an alleged primary election conducted by certain persons claiming to be state executive members of our party, allegedly held on Monday, October 17, 2022 in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State," the PDP said in a letter to INEC from Iyorchia Ayu and Samuel Anyanwu, the party's chairman and national secretary, respectively.

"This comes days after the 14 days ordered by the Federal High Court for the party to hold a new primary election.

"The 14 days ordered by the Federal High Court, Abeokuta Division, within which the party was to hold a new primary election, expired on Tuesday, October 10, 2022, and no new primary was held in the 'Ogun State, the party having resolved to appeal and rightly so.

“This, being our position, we were surprised to read in both print and online media that some people claiming to be part of a faction of the party have staged a new primary on behalf of the party. on Monday, October 17, 2022, 7 days after the 14 days ordered by the Federal High Court, Abeokuta Division, against which the party appealed, expired. »

The Ogun State branch of the party suspended Mr. Lawal and four others for organizing the “illegal primary”.

Last month, a Federal High Court in Abeokuta overturned all primary elections previously held by the PDP, requiring the party to hold a new primary within 14 days.

But the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has appealed the ruling, insisting the party will not hold another primary in the state.

In the letter to the INEC, the PDP said that Article 50 of the party constitution empowers its NWC acting on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to formulate guidelines and regulations for the appointment of candidates for election to public office at any time. levels.

He added that the NWC “shall be the final authority to resolve all disputes relating to the selection of party candidates for any election and to refer them to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or any other authority to which it may concern, confirming the names or list of names of party candidates for any elective office in the federation. This section enjoys a plethora of judicial support."

The party further drew the attention of the Election Arbitrator to the provisions of the Elections Act 2022, stating: "The Act provides that all correspondence between the Commission and political parties must be signed by the National Chairman and the national secretary of the party, not state cadres.

"We hereby inform the Commission of this illegality and advise the Commission that the National Labor Committee dissociates itself from the said new primary election conducted by persons other than the National Labor Committee. We do not recognize those persons involved in this illegality."

The party, however, advised the election arbiter to “refrain from accepting letters or correspondence written on behalf of the party by any executive in Ogun State and exercise caution in his dealings with these people in the future." Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism is very expensive. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain relevant journalism and ensure that it remains...