The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State said it has suspended its primaries for the House of Assembly and House of Representatives indefinitely over an unreconciled list of delegates.
A statement by the PDP legal advisor in the state, Kessinger Ikeokwu, on Sunday, attributed the non-conduct of the primaries to “confusion caused by the National Assembly”.
Mr Ikeoku explained that Imo would not vote along with other states who were now voting with their three-man ward delegates and one national delegate.
“Please note that the reason for the suspension of the PDP House of Assembly and House of Representatives primaries in Imo as 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 per cent of delegates ordinarily meant to vote at the primaries.
“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 explained.
Mr Ikeoku urged PDP members in the state to ignore “fifth columnists writing about a crisis within the party”.
According to him, there is no crisis, as the leadership of the party at all levels were working together to make sure our ad hoc delegates are cleared to vote at our primaries on a later date to be announced.
He assured them that as soon as President Muhammadu Buhari signed the amended Electoral Act 2022, the state delegate list would be properly constituted.
(NAN)
