LGs poll primaries tear Adamawa PDP apart

From Umar Dankano, Yola

The National Working Committee (NWC), the Adamawa State Executive Committee of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri have been urged to address the alleged impartiality exhibited by the party’s committee set up to conduct the primary elections ahead of local government election scheduled for November 2019 in the State.
Some aggrieved persons in the party made the appeal at a press conference in Yola, where they alleged that the electoral committee headed by Hon.Kwamoti Laori had manipulated the conduct of the councillorship and chairmanship primaries, especially in Numan local government area.
Registering their dismay over the development, the group under the auspices of Concern Citizens of Numan Town, protested against what they described as wrongful disqualification of some aspirants for the coming council election in the state by the Hon. Laori’s screening committee.
Spokesman of the protesters, Vidiyabo Pagiel, appealed to the National Executive Council of the party and Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri to intervene to save the party in the state.
They alleged that the committee disqualified a popular candidate in Numan Local Government on flimsy excuse that placed PDP at a disadvantaged position for the election in the area.
“Why did they disqualify the most popular candidate in the person of Hon. Jackson Nayinso on flimsy reasons that his resignation was not approved by the National Headquarters of NULGE?
“Why did they clear Hon. Innocent Koto, whose promotion from GL 08-12 is being questioned because an accelerated promotion was given to him to pave way for his appointment as Secretary of Numan Local Government Council?
“Why are some councillorship candidates cleared by the committee despite the allegations raised against them that they are still civil servants in government payroll,” the group queried.
They wondered why the committee should disqualify Nayiso on flimsy excuse and clear others with serious problems, adding that there was nothing like zoning for anyone to contemplate suppressing candidates from the four wards of Numan metropolis out of the election.
The group said “We are appealing to the NEC members of PDP, the State Executive Council members and the executive Governor of Adamawa state to look into our grievances to avert future actions which may lead to the downfall of PDP in Numan LGA.”
They reiterated their support for Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri and urged him not to allow some party members to create confusion in the party.
“Numan politics have been compartmentalized, yet we are 100 per cent in support of the executive Governor and his laudable programmes, particularly the prompt payment of pension and salaries”, they said.
Our correspondent in Yola reported that in some of the local government areas monitored on Saturday, the primaries were conducted amidst tension and complaints, raising fears about the party’s chances in the election if urgent reconciliation is not done before the November election.
In Ganye, there was free for all, as according to a protesting party supporter, Michael Gwangwaso “They wanted to cheat us, and we are ready for showdown. The party primary was not conducted in a transparent manner. This brought free for all fight,” he said.
When contacted, the party State Secretary, Abdullahi Adamu Prembe, said “appeal committee has been set up for any aggrieved member to seek redress.”