By Thompson Agu, Abuja
Despite dumping their former parties to officially rejoin the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, since the 2015 election gathered steam, it is not yet Uhuru for some aspirants from Imo state angling for certain tickets of the party ahead of next years election.
Top on the list of these group are Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, two time Senator of Okigwe zone under PDP who dumped the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, to run for the governorship of the party in 2011, incumbent Senator, of Owerri zone, Senator Christy Anyanwu formerly of APGA and her colleague at the lower chamber of the National Assembly representing Owerri Federal Constituency, Ezenwa Onyewuchi not left out are Gibson Achonwa Njemanze, while Araraume is gunning for the position of governorship alongside Senator Anyanwu, Oyiga and Onyewuchi are running for House of Reps position for Owerri Federal constituency. Others are Mike Ahamba and Dr Charles Onuoha all running for Guber
Trumpeta checks at the national secretariat of the party office in Abuja revealed that returnee party men seeking to get the party’s ticket must also get waiver clearance before joining the fray. Our correspondent became aware of this after the various meeting of the party which was ended by meeting of the National Executive Council, NEC of the party yesterday.
Trumpeta was informed by authoritative sources that those who left the party and rejoined must be properly check before granting of waiver to avoid fresh turncoat approaches. It would be recalled that the granting of waiver to returnee party members also resurrected recently during the Adamawa governorship election primaries where three aspirants Mohammed Baba Marwa, Marcus Gindiri and Nuhu Ribadu were granted waivers before slugging it out for primaries that was eventually won by the acting governor and speaker of the House, Ahmadu Fintiri
While Marwa and Gindiri associated with PDP in the past before they joined ACN in 2011 and later APC only to return to PDP again, Ribadu ex czar of EFCC was APC card-carrying member until his recent defection to PDP.
This newspaper was reliably informed that Imo politicians who dumped the PDP in the past but returned to contest will be subjected to waiver. A party source who does not want to be quoted to avoid being linked to revelation of classified information about the party programs disclosed that the Unity Rally held in Owerri on February where President Goodluck Jonathan stormed the state capital to receive decampees was one of the formed processes to receive them back adding that it does not remove the aspect of granting of waivers.
The granting of waiver, our correspondent further gathered could be another subtle tool to bar some of the aspirants from running. Trumpeta was told that where some of the returnees will pose trouble or their interest will threaten peace and tranquility in the state arm of the party, the refusal to grant waiver may be applied to kick them out of the race.
However, it was learnt that some of the guber aspirants like Araraume and Anyanwu considered a major force and grassroots politicians may be left off the hook and granted waiver since they were personally received back into the party by President Jonathan, the leader of the party who left other schedules in Abuja for the Owerri event. Jonathan had at the event muted that all those willing to join the PDP bang wagon should declare for the party because after the return of Araraume, Anyanwu and Co, others any have the door shut against them.
The waiver will pose a difficult task for the Imo returnees seeking election if PDP constitution is allowed. Former Abia state governor who left PDP to establish Progressive People Alliance PPA prior to the 2007 election attempts to get a waiver has proved abortive, same was also meted to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar now of the APC when he wanted to return to the PDP after his sojourn in the (AC) in 2007 before he managed to get waiver.
Though there is room for those who left the party to return. Such returnees are to apply through their ward secretaries for re-admission.
Once readmitted according to the party’s constitution, the person shall remain on probation for one year and shall have the right to attend all meetings of the party, but shall not be entitled to vote at such meetings, nor shall be eligible to contest for elective office on the platform of the party. However, if the National working committee of the party gives them a waiver, they can cross the hurdle and to contest since they have not joined a year before the party primaries.
