The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has suspended its primaries for the House of Assembly and House of Representatives indefinitely over unreconciled delegates list.
This was confirmed by the party’s Legal Adviser in the state, Mr. Kessinger Ikeokwu, in a statement on Sunday May 22, 2022 saying the non-conduct of the primaries is due to confusion caused by the National Assembly.
The Senate on Tuesday May 10, 2022 revised the Electoral Act 2022 to allow ‘statutory delegates,’ or elected officials, to attend and vote in political party conventions, congresses, and meetings.
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The President, Vice President, Members of the National Assembly, Governors and their deputies, Members of the State Houses of Assembly, Chairmen of Councils, Councillors, and the National Working Committee of political parties are among those listed as statutory delegates.
The Electoral Amendment Bill was forwarded to the president by the national assembly few days ago, however, it is not unclear whether the president had signed it.
The amendment is crucial to the participation of statutory delegates at the primaries and parties’ national conventions.
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Mr. Kessinger Ikeokwu said: “Please note that the reason for the suspension of the PDP House of Assembly and House of Representatives primaries in Imo was a result of the confusion that arose from the error of the National Assembly in the country.
“This is hinged on Section 84 (8) of the Electoral Act which inadvertently led to the exclusion of over 80 percent of delegates ordinarily meant to vote at the primaries.
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“The Imo PDP case became compounded because it hadn’t tidied up its three- man ad hoc delegates, who ought to vote at the primaries due to pending litigations.
“Every preparation was made for us to use our statutory delegates to vote, before the National Assembly saw the error in Section 84 of the Amended Electoral Act, 2022, which excluded the statutory delegates.
“What it means is that it created a situation of chaos for Imo because we have not concluded our elected delegates,” he said.
Ikeokwu urged the party faithful to ignore the fifth columnists writing about a crisis in the party.
He assured them that as soon as President Buhari signed the amended Electoral Act, the state delegate list would be properly constituted to vote at the primaries.
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