Echocho Charges PDP to Conduct Credible Primary Elections in Kogi

The Jibrin Isah Echocho Campaign Organisation in Kogi State has charged the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be fair in the conduct of the gubernatorial primary election in the state. This was contained in a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Abuja.

“The Echocho campaign organisation observed with seriousness that the list of the electoral committee released by the National Headquarters of PDP is suspect. We are aware as a matter of fact that in the last two weeks, the Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, along with the state PDP executive members, have been in Abuja lobbying the powers that be and stakeholders of the PDP to get them to support the Wada candidature in the forthcoming ward congress/ primary election,” the statement read.

It further added that “We note particularly his statement at the caucus meeting of the party, where Wada pleaded with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to throw their weight behind him in the upcoming exercise. This list therefore might have been arranged to serve the interest of the governor.”

The statement also stated that the Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, who also doubles as the chairman of the PDP governors forum has been discreetly campaigning for the governor of the state Capt. Idris Wada by prevailing on other aspirants to step down for the governor.

The statement further stated that “It is a known fact that during the recently concluded Kogi State Congress of the party for the election of state exco, the congress committee connived with the state governor, where ninety (90%) percent of the Ad-hoc delegates were hand-picked by the governor’s aides such as commissioners, Special Advisers, Chief of Staff and acting local government chairmen.

“We want to also state here that we are aware of the move being made by the governor and his cohorts in the forthcoming ward ad-hoc delegate/primary election of the party. We want to state with emphasis here that the list of delegates has been produced already by all the acting L.G.A council Leaders and the list already handed over to the governor,” it continued.

The statement which was signed by the DG of the Echocho campaign organisation, Hon. Fehinti Dada, warned that “anything short of transparency in the forthcoming ward congress and primary election of the party in Kogi State will confine PDP to the dust bin in the forthcoming election in Kogi State.”

The Echocho campaign organisation “appeals to the conscience of the electoral committee members to shun monetary inducement and vote their conscience.”

Pro-transparency non-governmental organisations, Citizens Watch Nigeria (CWN) and Good Governance Project Initiative (GGPI), have lauded the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for what they described as clinical and thorough investigation which exonerated the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) and former Inspector-General Police (IG), Mr. Mike Okiro of allegations of financial wrong doing.

A staff of the police commission, Mr. Aaron Kaase, had made corruption allegations against Okiro, but the groups however commended the ICPC for exonerating the former police boss for living above board.

The commendation was made at a news briefing in Abuja by the Executive Secretary, Citizens Watch Nigeria, Mr. KennethAigbegbele, and National President, GGPI, Innocent Okadigbo, both of whom further remarked that the investigation has turned out to be a blessing in disguise “because Okiro is now confirmed a corrupt-free Nigerian, tested and trusted and a man of honour, integrity and impeccable character who should support