By Lateef Ibrahim Abuja
A female governorship aspirant in Imo state, Mrs Irene Ottih has called for the cancellation of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primaries in the state over her exclusion from the contest.
Ottih, while speaking with journalists at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja yestetday, explained that she duly purchased and submitted her nomination and expression of interest forms but was not screened by the screening committee led by Mike Onolememen.
The aspirant disclosed that she was at the PDP secretariat since Thursday last week but that the screening committee dilly dallied in her screening giving one excuse or the other.
She expressed disappointment that the PDP that is said to have rebranded itself is still doing those things that made her lose the 2015 general election.
Mrs Ottih insisted that since she met all the requirements set out in the party guidelines, she will not accept her exclusion from the primaries.
She called on the national leadership of the party to annul the outcome of the primaries in Imo State.
According to her, “The PDP is campaigning to encourage women and youths, that their door is open to women and youths. I don’t think a woman that is willing to give her best to her state to be denied of her fundamental human right.
“So the election result should be cancelled so that I can participate in the primary election.
“There is no way you ask Nigerians to support the party and you shut them out of the contest. I am an entrepreneur, so I worked hard to make my money.
“So you can’t ask somebody to buy form and you won’t be there to screen them and then you denied her of her right and say it has passed.
“We have come to speak to the press so that we will help to get the best out of PDP. So that of something is wrong they can correct it and get it right. And make sure they give everybody a fair play and a chance to participate, especially the youths.”
While reacting to Ottih’s claims, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan said he is not aware of any aspirant that was not screened by the screening panel.
Ologbondiyan explained that the party has a timeline for its screening of aspirants and this timeline is strictly followed by the party.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
