• It’s way of stopping those the gov doesn’t want – Kalu


In a move to stop the opposition, Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated a 16-man State Congress and Primary Committee for next year’s elections.Reacting to this, former governor of the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, condemned the action, describing it as illegal. Consequently, he advised Abia natives not to appear before the committee.
Chairman of PDP in the state, Senator Emma Nwaka, had, yesterday, in Umuahia, inaugurated the committee headed by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Umuahia, Charles Ogbonna, Governor Theodore Orji’s cousin. Only two members of the committee, Charles Esonu, state PDP secretary and Theodore Obike, state organising secretary, were present at the inauguration.
Speaking at the ceremony, the state PDP chairman said the committee’s terms of reference include conducting congresses for the selection of three-man delegate in all the wards in the 17 local government areas of the state.
He also said the committee would conduct party primary election for the party’s candidates ahead of the 2015 elections in the state.
Commenting on the committee’s inauguration in a telephone chat, Kalu said the move by the state PDP was illegal, as it has no place in the party’s constitution.
“Where have you seen such committee set up in any of the states of the federation?
“Why must things be done the wrong way in Abia State? Things will no longer be allowed to go the wrong way in the state,” he stated.
He said the setting up of the committee was a way of telling those who Governor Theodore Orji would not want to contest the election, to stay away from the 2015 elections.
The former governor said by setting up the committee, Governor Orji was trying to arrogate to himself, the duty of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, which he stated, ought to decide who contests the election.
Kalu said it was in order for the committee to do the bidding of the governor, that he influenced the appointment of his cousin (Charles Ogbonna) to head it, stating that if the committee was not stopped, it would make a mess of the democratic process in the state.
He stated that having, for instance, zoned the governorship to a particular area, Governor Orji has made it practically impossible for the committee to carry out its assignment in a way that would favour any aspirant that is not from the governor’s anointed zone, stressing that all must stand up against this.
While calling on Abia natives to shun the committee, as it was illegal and its activities would amount to a mere waste of time and resources, Kalu urged the NWC of the PDP to wade in and save the day for the state.
He said: “Nobody should go to that committee for anything, for that will amount to a mere waste of time. We are law abiding, that’s why we are calling on the NWC of the party to look into the illegality that is playing out in Abia State.
“Nobody should arrogate to himself, powers he has not, powers that only belong to the NWC and it is only that body that decides who should or should not contest election.”

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=85944

Meaning that Abians will be having another T.A Orji for another 8yrs.