Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema
Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja
Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, on Monday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would retain the state in the 2015 election.
He dismissed a petition forwarded to the PDP headquarters by aggrieved members of his state chapter, saying the party would retain the state despite all odds.
Six gubernatorial aspirants under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had earlier on Monday petitioned the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ahmed Muazu, warning that the party risked losing next year’s election in the state because of an alleged attempt by Shema to field an unpopular candidate.
The petitioners included Senator Ibrahim Ida, former deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Tukur Jikamshi; Gide Yar’Adua, Ahmed Yar’Adua, Kabir Barkiya and Engineer Mohammed Khalil.
In the petition dated November 4, they alleged that Shema conveyed a meeting of his cabinet and personal aides without involving the stakeholders of the party and announced the “anointment” of one Musa Nashumi as his gubernatorial candidate in the 2015 general election.
“The said anointed candidate is not only a stranger in the political environment of the state, but is also unpopular even in his immediate constituency.
“Contrary to the provision of party guidelines, which provide for holding of wards and local government congress for the purpose, the state governor unilaterally compiled a list of all the ad hoc delegates for the 361 wards and the national delegate of 34 local governments with the intent of using these for all the forthcoming primary election.
“Following these improper actions taken by the state governor, all the party members and supporters in the state are now in a state of shock, confusion and fear of losing all elections in 2015.
“Although Katsina State is a stronghold of the PDP in the north west zone, it is also the home state of the leading members of the opposition. Therefore, for the party to succeed in the 2015 general election, it must field a popular and acceptable candidate,” the petition read.
The petitioners requested Mu’azu and the National Working Committee (NWC) to “reject any anointment of a gubernatorial candidate for the 2015 general election in Katsina State.
“Send a fact-finding team to Katsina State to establish the true state of affairs of the party in the state in particularly, true relationship between the state government and the party stakeholders at all levels.
“The party should ensure that there is a level playing field for all the stakeholders in the state so that no one will be excluded in all political activities.”
In his response, the governor said he did not anoint any candidate, noting that the party’s candidate could only emerge after the conduct of the primary election.
Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Shema said he could only support any candidate after the primary election.
Dismissing the petition, Shema noted that politicians would always write petitions.
Dismissing the petition, Shema noted that politicians would always write petitions.
The governor expressed confidence that just like in previous elections, the PDP would retain the state in 2015.
Source: thisdaylive.com
No comments:
Post a Comment