Hon. Stephen Abraham Ajiya Petitions Against Alleged Manipulation in PDP North Central Zonal Congress Election
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In a detailed and impassioned petition, Hon. Stephen Abraham Ajiya, an aspirant for the position of National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) North Central Zone, has raised serious allegations against the PDP FCT State Publicity Secretary and her associates.
Hon. Ajiya, a prominent member of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the PDP, has accused them of planning to manipulate the upcoming PDP North Central Zonal Congress election, scheduled for March 22, 2025.
In his petition addressed to the Zonal Chairman of the PDP North Central Zone, Ajiya expressed his concerns about the integrity of the election process.
He emphasized his commitment to the party and his aspirations to lead the North Central Zone, highlighting his adherence to the party’s procedures by duly obtaining his Expression of Interest and Nomination Form.
The petitioner outlined a series of allegations against the PDP FCT State Publicity Secretary, Josephine Itoyah-Splendor, and her cohorts. He claims that they are attempting to undermine the democratic process by manipulating the election, accepting bribes, and imposing their preferred candidates without due process.
Hon. Ajiya stated, “The Publicity Secretary and her cohorts have made plans now to manipulate the election, prevent due process, collect bribe and inducement, select and impose their cronies on us in the name of consensus candidate without allowing election and due process to take its course in PDP FCT State Chapter.”
He further elaborated on the impact of these actions, stating that they would deprive the PDP FCT State Chapter of the opportunity to present popular, visionary, and vibrant candidates.
“This manipulation will scuttle and undermine the party’s democratic process, and it is an affront to the principles of fairness and transparency that our party stands for,” Hon. Ajiya asserted.
To support his claims, Hon. Ajiya attached copies of his receipts for the payment of his Expression of Interest and Nomination Form, as well as the administrative charges prescribed by the Zonal Organizing Committee.
He emphasized that he was the first aspirant to obtain his form, as evidenced by the serial number on his receipt. “I am in fact, the first Aspirant to duly obtain his Expression of Interest and Nomination Form as can be seen from the serial number of my Receipt of payment of Nomination Form which is No.: 0001,” Ajiya noted.
He also included copies of his Expression of Interest and Nomination Form as annexures to his petition, underscoring his commitment to the election process and his readiness to engage in a purposeful leadership campaign.
Hon. Ajiya’s petition also highlighted a controversial communique allegedly issued by the PDP FCT State Working Committee, North Central Committee, and Leaders of PDP FCT. According to him, the communique, signed by Josephine Itoyah-Splendor, was circulated on the PDP FCT Official WhatsApp Platform on December 19, 2024.
According to Ajiya, the communique stated that the State Working Committee members, along with the Zonal Committee member of the FCT and other leaders, had unanimously nominated Alh Abdulrahma Mohammed, the present Deputy National Auditor, as the sole candidate for Chairman PDP North Central Zonal.
Hon. Ajiya expressed his outrage at this development, describing it as “the most insulting and annoying of all.”
He argued that this move was a clear attempt to impose a candidate without allowing for a fair and transparent election process. “This purported communique is a blatant disregard for the democratic principles that our party is built upon. It is an attempt to impose a candidate without giving other aspirants a fair chance to contest,” Hon. Ajiya stated.
In his petition, Hon. Ajiya called for urgent intervention and investigation by the Zonal Chairman to prevent an impending crisis in the North Central Zone of the party.
He urged the party leadership to ensure that the election process is conducted fairly and transparently, allowing all aspirants to compete on a level playing field. “I request your urgent intervention and investigation to forestall the impending crisis in the zone. It is imperative that the party leadership takes immediate action to uphold the principles of democracy and fairness,” Hon. Ajiya appealed.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the PDP and ensuring that the party remains a beacon of democratic values.
“Our party must stand firm in its commitment to democracy and transparency. We must not allow the actions of a few individuals to tarnish the reputation of the PDP and undermine the trust of our members and supporters,” Hon. Ajiya concluded.
Recall that in a letter of complaint addressed to the Zonal Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Stephen Abraham Ajiya’s lawyers, S.C. Uchendu Chambers, had raised concerns about the party’s democratic process being undermined.
As the PDP North Central Zonal Congress election approaches, the petition by Hon. Stephen Abraham Ajiya has brought to light critical issues that need to be addressed to ensure a fair and transparent election process. The party leadership’s response to these allegations will be closely watched by party members, stakeholders, and the broader public. It remains to be seen how the PDP will navigate this challenging situation and uphold its commitment to democratic principles.
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