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Gov. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State

Controversy trails inconclusive ward congresses in parts of Gombe

Gov. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State
Gov. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State

The nationwide ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held last weekend was characterized by controversy which has rendered the exercise inconclusive in Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State as at the time of filing this report.

The exercise, which was haphazardly done amidst heavy tension was conducted against the backdrop of the lingering controversy between parallel interest groups within the party in the Local Government.

Reports made available to journalists who visited some of the wards in Billiri Local Government Area have it that there were widespread allegations that some selfish interests among the party stakeholders insisted that things must be done their own way. They were also alleged to have been causing havoc in order to mar the entire process.

Earlier on, a group of aggrieved PDP members from the same area had stormed the State party secretariat last Friday in Gombe to lodge their grievances over alleged plans by the party leadership in the state to impose ward leaders on them. The protesters insisted that the ward leaders must emerge through elections.

Speaking to journalists on the matter, the member representing Billiri East Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Mr. Rambi Ibrahim Ayala, said the party has a guideline for ward congresses. According to him, the guideline provides that Ward leaders who have spent only four years should be given opportunity for return by way of consensus, while for those who have spent eight years, the guideline shows that they could be replaced.

He said what lead to the unwanted situation at the ward congress was orchestrated by few selfish individuals who were bent on having their way for no justifiable reasons.

He stressed that, “As you can see for yourselves, today we are having a congress that does not have any reviewed register by the party, no security presence and nothing whatsoever to ensure standardized conduct of a congress. But we all know that, it is the responsibility of every government to provide security for its people.”

He stated further that, people within his ward have been mobilized to abide by the rules and stand for the truth and true democracy adding, “Our message here is that, you cannot shave our heads in our absence, we are also saying that the people will always speak, and that their wishes will always prevail”.

On his part, member representing Billiri South Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Mr. Tulfugut Kardi also told journalists that, the ugly incident was deliberately orchestrated by some individuals and refused to substantiate his allegations.

But while speaking to Journalists on the conduct of the congress, Dr. Joseph Audu, the PDP Congress Committee official from the party’s National Headquarters in Abuja said there has been conflicting interests among the party stakeholders in the area where some people want consensus, while others are of a different opinion.

According to him, “we have been talking and talking with them since Friday to see how we could resolve the issue and have consensus, but some are saying, ‘this is democracy, let’s go to the polls’.”

He said, even though their officials have had some distractions in some of the wards, he wouldn’t want to preempt the outcome. He however assured that, officials were doing all they could to ensure they carry out their assignments successfully.

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