PDP Clears All Aspirants For Gov Primaries

The Appeal Panel Investigating the disqualification of  Governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cleared all the aspirants to contest the December 8 primaries of the party in Rivers State.
The Screening Committee of the party had on Tuesday disqualified some governorship aspirants alleging that they were not members of the party, but the Appeal Panel nullified the decision and cleared all the aspirants to contest the election. Some of the aspirants who spoke to The Tide commended the appeal panel for bringing back hope to the party.
Chief Bekinbo Dagogo Jack confirm to The Tide that they had all been cleared and issued with clearance certificate by the Appeal panel.
Dagogo a former Special Assistant to the President on Power, said the panel dismissed all the frivolous allegations against them.
According to him, “I can confirm to you that I have been cleared as an aspirant for the office of the governor of Rivers State for 2015 election on the platform of the PDP.
He said no aspirant has the power or right to exclude others from contesting the governorship election on the platform of PDP.
“What happened is a restoration of hope that the party will fill in a better candidate, and no one individual can buy the party or own the party”; he said.
Also Speaking, Prince Tonye Princewill commended his supporters for their prayers but said the party still have a lot to do to ensure equity and fairness during the primaries on December 8.
According to him, PDP still needs to do a little bit more. The national leadership has shown that money is not everything and the people’s voices do matter. Keep up with your praying!!! Miracles do really happen”.
Another aspirant who was happy for the nullification of the earlier decision of the screening panel, Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs said he was confident that he will emerge as the PDP candidate.
According to him, “We have never been more hopeful than what we are now. I am loved by the people and will emerge as the party candidate”.
Meanwhile, the coordinator of Rivers Mainstream Coalition, Prof. Israel Owate also commended the Appeal Panel and said one man cannot pocket PDP.
According to him, “Chief Nyesom Wike and his group cannot fool the people any more”.
He commended the decision of the appeal panel and urged the people and delegates to ensure that those he called desperadoes do not get what they want.
It would be recalled that last Tuesday, the South South Screening Committee disqualified about 13 governorship aspirants of the PDP claiming they are not members of the party.
Those disqualified were most of the aspirants who protested and boycotted the ward and Local government congresses on November 1 following the role allegedly played by the state executive of the party.
The Tide learnt that those disqualified wrote a petition which informed the setting up an appeal panel to investigate the issues presented by the aspirants and after considering them, the aspirants were consequently cleared to contest the election on December 8.

Chief Executive Officer PHED, Mr Jon Abbas (left) exchanging views with the Chief Financial Officer, PHED, Mr Jean-Piere Brethon at a book launch on 26 Leadership Laws of A Work Place, in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken