A veteran group, National Equity Group (NEG) within the Peoples Democratic Party has berated the National Chairman of the Party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu over the divisive statements he issued concerning the Presentation of Flag in Rivers state last weekend.
In the press release issued by the Secretary General of the group, Mr Fredrick Samson; he said Ayu committed three fallacies in the said statements. First, Ayu said: “ I did not send anyone to represent me in Rivers state to give any candidate the PDP Gubernatorial flag as Custom and Tradition of the Party demands “.
Ayu has forgotten, or he does not realise, that the Deputy National Chairman of the Party, in whose Zone the Ceremony took place was present at the event and does not need the approval of anyone before he can participate in any state function within his Zone.
Ayu may have his reasons for being inconspicuosly absent at the event, it is not seditious for the highest ranking National Working Committee official from the Zone, who was present at the event to do the needful; since the NWC is not a one man show as Ayu thought.
Secondly, Ayu stated: “ the Party must present a credible candidate in all standards, that has all requirements in accordance with the rule of law “. Probably, Ayu needs to be reminded that the Party has concluded the Gubernatorial Primary in Rivers state since 25th May, 2022; and a candidate has emerged who has also been given the Certificate of Returns by the Party under Ayu’s signature and INEC.
The credibility of the the Rivers state Guber Candidate has been determined and laid to rest under the constitution and the Electoral Act.
The most baffling of Ayu’s fallacies read: “ when the time comes, the whole world will know who is the real candidate in Rivers state” We wonder if Ayu wants to manufacture another candidate for PDP in Rivers state, different from Chief Siminalaye Fubara , who emerged during the guber Primary on 25th April, 2022; and who has been authenticated by Independent National Electoral Commission.
Ayu should understand that Presentation of flag by any Political Party to it’s candidate is just an arrangement for funfair, making merry and to showcase the candidate to Party members. His presentation or non presentation of flag does not validate or invalidate the candidature of any person that emerged in the Party Primary and who has obtained Certificate of Returns no Jupiter can change that.
The unwritten Custom and Tradition of the Party must bow before the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
