By Ahmed Abubakar
76 Angry aspirants from Ondo state have grounded activities of the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Abuja, over refusal of the party to clear them after the screening exercise that has just been concluded.
The aspirants, who were chanting war slogans and flashing inciting placards with inscriptions of, ‘PDP will fail without our mandate’; ‘Screening Committee infected by Ebola’ ; ‘Give us clearance for Jonathan to win’ among others.
The aspirants, who laid siege at the secretariat, sat by the main entrance of the PDP National Headquarters, thereby blocking entry into the premises, declaring that they’ll ensure that they work against the party in the general elections.
One of the spokesperson of the aggrieved group, Tolu Babaleye and also the vice-chairman of the Ondo Association of Aspirants, accused the party screening and appeal committee over sentiment by clearing only the 26 members that the state Governor, Olusegun Mimiko presented despite that they joined the party recently.
He said all of the 76 aspirants comprising of former and serving senators, former ministers, bankers and a host of others were refused to be screened over flimsy reasons such as non-provision of N.Y.S.C. discharge certificate for an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) holder from one of the aspirants”.
Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the PDP, Professor Wale Oladipo, who addressed the protesters, told them that the party would look into their plight and the crises would be resolved by next Wednesday.
Professor Oladipo said it became evident that all was not well when only 26 members that also represented 26 constituencies of the state were adjudged to have been cleared after the screening, which he assured would not be party to.
He also said he would not be party to where NYSC discharge certificate would be demanded by an OND certificate holder and assured that by Wednesday, they would all be happy over the party’s subsequent decision.
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