The recent dust raised by the outcome of the presidential primary of the Peoples Redemption Party has refused to settle in Taraba State.
The primary which produced the eldest son of late Bashorun MKO Abiola, the winner of the 1993 June 12 presidential election, has been frowned upon by the state chapter of the party.
The aggrieved members in a press statement on Sunday in Jalingo, alleged that the party’s presidential candidate, Lateef Kolawale Abiola, emerged against the wish of the teaming supporters of the party.
They claimed that the flag bearer was forcefully imposed on the party by some political kingpins, who they alleged had no interest of the party at heart.
The statement which was signed by one of the party’s stalwarts, Samuel Emmanuel, said, “the Presidential primary which took place on June 5th, 2022 was a complete conspiracy.”
‘Imposing a candidate through godfatherism is not in line with our party’s principles, the aggrieved party members claimed.
Parts of the statement read, “it was after the announcement and declaration of Lateef Kolawale Abiola as the winner that information got to us that the fabrication by the National Executive Committee of our party was done deliberately to misguide delegates and undermine the integrity of the process in favour of Abiola.”
Describing the alleged action of the party’s leadership as undemocratic aggrieved members affirmed in their statement that PRP, ”is our party and we will stay and ensure that justice prevails.”
They asked the leadership of the party to reposition it for the dreams of triumphing in the forthcoming polls to be actualized.
The group who want the party to give the mandate to the right person whom they identified as Patience Ndidi, said the need for us to put “our house in order and show true democratic conduct by just handling the matter of hands well” has become necessary.
The members who described the said primary as “illegal” said the exercise was not an election as it did not follow the guidelines of the party or the electoral law.