By Andrew Ajijah:
A group of Aspirants into the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP State Executive Council In Plateau State have called for stoppage of the party Congresses scheduled for this Saturday in Jos.
The Aspirants numbering about 40 told Journalists in Jos, during a press conference, that the intended m State PDP Congress is illegal, as aspirants have not been screened to participate in the Congresses.
A former legal adviser of the Party in the State, Barrister Simon Jok, former member, House of Representative, for Jos south/Jos East Federal Constituency, Hon Bitrus Kaze, and a one time Commissioner in the Plateau state government Hon Aminu Zang, on Friday evening said the propose Congress is a contradiction of the PDP Constitution and against guidelines of national working committee of the PDP.
“What is happening in the Plateau PDP is an illegality and unconstitutional.”
“Should they go ahead with the Congresses on Saturday, we are not going to be part of it, because it’s an illegality,” Hon Aminu Zang informed.
According to the group, NWC of the party had on Wedneday 19th August 2020 constitute a nine man committee in the Plateau PDP to resolved the lingering issues that led to multiple litigations, after Ward Congresses; the group said part of the mandate of the committee was to hold state Congresses in Plateau state with 90 days.
Those who spoke on behalf of the group appealed to the leadership of the party at the national level to immediately interven and stop the illegality set to hold in Jos on Saturday.
According to the aspirants who briefed Journalists, said they purchased forms for the elections but have not been screened, because there was no screening committee in place due to the expiration of the tenure of the caretaker committee.
They also noted that those calling for the Plateau state PDP Congress at the moment are desirous of destroying the party in the state.
“As we speak, there are 13 cases in Court concerning the unresolved Ward Congresses held in the state earlier this year,” Barr. Jok revealed.
“There was a written undertaken at a Plateau high Court sitting in Panshin signed by PDP legal adviser, that no Congress should hold, until all litigations are resolved,” Hon Kaze revealed.
The former national Legislator in his view, stressed that should the issues not resolved amicably according to party Constitution, PDP may not thrive in future elections in Plateau state.
“We suffered defeat in 2015, the same incident occurred in 2019 elections, if we continue this way, there will be no difference come 2023 elections,” Hon. Kaze stated.
However, the group resolved to remain members of the People Democratic Party, PDP in Plateau state.