Alleged imposition of candidates tears FCT PDP apart

By Ali Abare Abubakar

Palpable anger, intense bitterness and threat to decamp to the opposition party have pervaded the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, following alleged intervention of the Presidency at the congress of the party scheduled for last Friday.

Aggrieved members of the party who constituted over 90 percent of the total delegates had thronged to the venue at the Old Parade ground for the congress preparatory for primaries but learnt that the Presidency had ordered a reversal to the status quo ante.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that most of the delegates were fed up with Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda over his lack luster performance having represented FCT for 12 years both at the House of Representatives and The Senate without anything to show for it.

The disappointed members of the party who spoke on the condition of anonymity cited a big house at Jabi which the Senator bought as his dividend of democracy forgetting those who elected him.

Investigation further revealed that prior to the said primaries, Senator Aduda had known his fate was hanging in the balance; hence he organized an emergency meeting with leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan.

At the said meeting Senator Aduda was alleged to have used ethnic and religious sentiments to mesmerize the President.

It was reliably gathered that Aduda knelt down and prostrated to the President, rolling on the ground to the consternation of his godfathers in the FCT.

Peeved by the situation, our source disclosed that the Presidency immediately placed a call to the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed ordering him to step down Sen. Jibrus Wowo the choice of the delegates for the incumbent.

It could be recalled that following the problems associated with the imposition of candidates which had thrown the party into confusion and rippled it aside, the Presidency set up a committee to reconcile aggrieved members and bring them back to the fold.

The panel for the North Central was headed by a former Minister of Defense, Alhaji Haliru Bello as chairman; Sen. Anosike and Handel Okoli as members that recommended due democratic process in choice of candidates representing the party in future elections.

“Now that the Presidency has jettisoned the expressive desire of the FCT people because of our man, he might as well forget our support come 2015,” said the delegates.

The group advised the President to stay clear of FCT congress and allow a level playing field for aspirants.