Opposition threatens Iwu, Ogbulafor over Soludo

THERE were signs yesterday that the adoption of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Chukwuma Soludo as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Anambra may run into a big crisis.

Party members, particularly fellow contestants, are kicking.

The protests have spread to other parties, with the umbrella Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) threatening to sue.

It threatened to sue Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chair Prof. Murice Iwu and PDP National Chairman PDP, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor.

Reason: The CNPP claims they have violated the 6pm deadline of October 9 (last Friday) to submit the name of the Anambra 2010 gubernatorial candidate.

CNPP, in a statement, objected to the "late" submission, adding that it is too early in the Anambra race for Iwu to start bending the rules in favour of PDP. It described the INEC chief as "an axe-man".

"We will contest this to the highest court in the land," the opposition parties said.

To the CNPP, Soludo had "wittingly or unwittingly" violated the PDP constitution as a beneficiary of an illegitimate mandate; hence PDP and their surrogates like Prof. Maurice Iwu, pose great threat of denying the good people of Anambra State the opportunity to elect a governor of their choice, under a free and fair election template.

CNPP said it recalled how "Mr. Fix" it; Chief Tony Anenih and other big- wigs of PDP hosted Soludo at a social function, the retention of Maurice Iwu and flagrant disobedience of court orders by Iwu on the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) issue without sanction from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa.

CNPP said it sensed a plot to manipulate next year’s Anambra State governorship election and indeed the 2011 general elections, with the recent moves by PDP members.

The statement, signed by CNPP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, read: "Pundits and lots of Nigerian democrats had predicted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Anambra State gubernatorial primary that took off penultimate week will show case free, fair and transparent election, hence internal democracy, that opportunity was lost; for it is trite law that you cannot give what you do not have nor build nothing out of nothing.

"To us democracy is a journey, not a destination. The violation and disobedience of INEC’s 6pm deadline of October 9, 2009 and lack of internal democracy from the so-called largest political party (PDP) in Africa calls for great concern, as robust practice of internal democracy and obedience to INEC rules are essential ingredients to electoral rule of law and procedure for free, fair and transparent elections.

"The failure to manage successfully a party primary holding in only one state and submit candidate’s name on time has paradoxically gazetted why PDP is growing as the largest political party in Africa; while the country it has ruled for nearly 10 years is dangerously sliding into a failed state.

"CNPP has for the umpteenth time maintained that PDP’s chronic phobia for election is synonymous with their inordinate ambition to transform Nigeria into one-party state and rule for 60 years; otherwise how can one explain the repeat of the 2003 and 2007 sham elections prototype fraud, violence and plethora of petitions, in a primary conducted by a regime which preaches electoral reform.

"The sordid outcome and failure of PDP to conduct free, fair and transparent gubernatorial primary, in spite of the deployment of soldiers, serving governors, ministers and the Speaker is that Professor C.C Soludo, emerged the candidate of PDP without the genuine votes of members of the PDP but that of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and fixers.

"PDP’s chronic phobia for election, even in this instance, is painful not only because it signposts 2011 election looming anarchy, but the main objective of intra-party primary to enhance and restore the inalienable rights of party members to choose the candidate of their choice and purify the electoral process, has been violently atrophied by party bosses, fixers and their machine.

"CNPP thus contends that the fundamental principle of democracy is substantially flawed in Anambra State PDP gubernatorial primary, for the PDP constitution was violated and INEC’s 6pm deadline violently disobeyed. Thus, to save Nigerian democracy and stop the manipulation of the 2010 Anambra State election; CNPP calls on the National Assembly to, as a matter of urgent national importance, fast track genuine electoral reform, in accordance with the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee Report."

But defending its choice of Soludo, PDP said it relied on the provisions of its constitution.

PDP spokesman Prof. Ahmed Alkali said: "With the pressure of time mounting on the party, the National Working Committee (NWC) invoked the provisions of Article 17.1 of the PDP constitution, which recognizes the powers of the National Executive Committee (NEC), exercisable by NWC, as the final authority for resolving all disputes relating to the choice of candidates for the party for any elective public office in the federation."