By Ibrahim Abdul’Aziz
Protests have continued to trail the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) councilor and chairmanship primaries ahead of councils elections slated for November.
In some of the local government areas monitored by our correspondent on Saturday, the primaries were conducted amidst tension and complaints, raising fears about the party’s chances in the election if urgent reconciliation is not done before November.
In Ganye, there was free-for-all-fight as, according to a protesting party supporter, Michael Gwangwaso, “They wanted to cheat us, and we are ready for a showdown. The party primary was not conducted in a transparent manner.
“This brought free-for-all fight,” he said.
Just like the other local government areas, in Numan, some PDP supporters, under the auspices of Concern Citizens of Numan Town, have protested against what they described as wrongful disqualification of some aspirants for the coming council election in the state by the Kwamoti Laori screening committee.
The protesters who addressed a press conference in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, accused the screening committee of showing favouratism in the exercise.
Spokesman of the concern members who read their text, Mr. Vidiyabo Pagiel, appealed to the National Executive Council of the party and Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri to intervene to save the party.
They alleged that the committee disqualified a popular candidate in Numan LGA on a flimsy excuse that placed PDP at a disadvantaged position for the election in the area.
“Why did they disqualify the most popular candidate in the person of Hon. Jackson Nayinso on flimsy reasons that his resignation was not approved by the national headquarters of NULGE?
“Why did they clear Hon. Innocent Koto whose promotion from GL 08-12 is being questioned because an accelerated promotion was given to him to pave way for his appointment as secretary of Numan LGC?
“Why are some councillorship candidates cleared by the committee despite the allegations raised against them that they are still civil servants on government payroll?” the group queried.
They wondered why the committee should disqualify Nayiso on flimsy excuses and clear others with serious problems, adding that there was nothing like zoning for anyone to contemplate suppressing and chasing candidates from the four wards of Numan metropolis out of the election.
“We are appealing to the NEC members of PDP, the state executive council members, and the executive governor of Adamawa State to look into our grievances to avert future actions which may lead to the downfall of PDP in Numan LGA.”
They reiterated their support to Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri and urged him not to allow some party members to create confusion in the party.
“Numan politics has been compartmentalized,”the group alleged, “yet, we are 100 per cent in support of the executive governor and his laudable programmes, particularly the prompt payment of pension and salaries.”
When contacted, the party secretary, Abdullahi Adamu Prembe, said an “appeal committee has been set up for any aggrieved members to seek redress.”
