(NIGERIA) The Coalition of All Abia Groups: Abia Coalition Of Forces against Impunity, Abia Group Campaigning Against Imposition Of Candidates, Abia Youths For Change, Abia Progressive Force For Good Governance, Abia Force Against Rigging, Abia Liberators and Concerned Citizens of Abia, yesterday warned incumbent governor of the state, Theodore Orji to desist from what it termed deliberate breach of internal constitution of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos, National Coordinator and Chairman of the group under the umbrella of Abia Redemption Group, Chigozie Agbakwo argued that, "The various groups observed with shock and anger the several breaches of the internal constitution of PDP as the party prepares its candidates for the general elections of 2015.
"By their internal electoral guideline, the party was supposed to conduct an election on the 1st of November 2014 for the 3-man delegates preparatory for the primary elections for the following positions: State House of Assembly, Federal House of Representatives, Senate and Gubernatorial.
"It is on record that the delegates election did not take place as party members who turned out enmasse to cast their votes were disappointed as no election officers and materials were seen in all the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State.
"Yet, results were written and handed over to the Committee that came from Abuja for the purpose of conducting that election. In summary, election did not take place in Abia State on the 1st of November for the election of the 3-man delegates.
"Despite the protests both in writing and orally to the leadership of the Party in Abuja, they turned a blind eye and refused to look into the allegations of what took place on the 1st November, 2014.
"With the list of delegates (which is Governor T.A. Orji’s list) one would have thought that the party PDP will allow primary election into the State House of Assembly which was slated for 29th November, 2014 but alas, the people were once again totally disappointed by the turn of event.
"Again, no election took place in almost all the Local Government Areas of Abia State on that date. Most delegates came out; stood on line from morning till night with no single activity at the disclosed centres, again, results were submitted and announced using the state funded media houses.
"Infact, the governor was quoted as saying that he is very happy with the party delegates for conducting themselves peacefully and casting their votes in an atmosphere that could be described as free and fair. "This statement is not only ridiculous, but very contemptuous of the entire citizens of Abia State. As at today, almost 98 percent if not 100 percent of the candidates that are returned as candidates for the State House of Assembly in Abia State are either T.A.Orji’s personal assistants, commissioners or relations including his son (popularly known as “Ikuku” that is being programmed to take over the governorship position of the State by proxy after the election of 2015.
"The question that the Abians are asking is why a major political party that has ruled Abia for over 11 years is toying with its internal democratic mechanism to the disadvantage of herself as a political party and by extension to the disadvantage of the citizens of the state that will be limited to wrong choice due to the harm already mentioned.
"Abians are tired of misgovernance and the imposition of candidates that has kept the state as a toddler since this new democratic dispensation.
"We are demanding that the gubernatorial primaries of PDP in Abia on 8th December, 2014 be done by the Delegates (whose list is with the PDP in Abuja). The list is a public document that should be displayed to the PDP members whereas up till now the list is kept away from everyone including the candidates. Is this fair?
"If PDP desires to retain Abia State as one of the states it will still govern from May 2015, they are advised to allow free, fair and credible primaries to take place on the 8th of December, 2014 in Umuahia.
"If this is not allowed as prayed here, then the entire Abia will have no choice other than to look towards the direction of other opposition parties that has filled credible candidates with capacity to govern Abia State from 2015. We are all chorusing enough is enough of imposition, misgovernance, corruption, ineptitude, godfatherism, terrorism, threats, kidnapping and similar vices prevalent in Abia State. God’s Own State is tired of being ruled by cultists, lazy and unimaginative elites, now is the time for the Abia State to be governed by God’s Own People."
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