…Claim 7,101 members deprived access forms
By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
The Katsina State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been been enmeshed in crisis as members of the newly constituted Caretaker Committee of the party has accused the Chairman and others of sabotage.
The national leadership of the PDP, it will be recalled, had, on the 17th of April, 2024 constituted the Caretaker Committee to pilot the affairs of the party at the state level.
The committee members, on Wednesday, disclosed that about 7,101 persons willing to purchase the forms, so as to participate in the upcoming congresses have been deprived access to purchase forms.
While addressing journalists on Wednesday at the PDP national secretariat, Abuja, Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi Tafashiya, a member of the committee, who led other Katsina stakeholders to Abuja, pointed out that there’s a disconnect between some of them as members of the Caretaker Committee and the Chairman, Alh. Musa A Karim for reasons best known to him.
According to Tafashiya, “The Katsina State PDP is in jeopardy as a result of the maladministration of its affairs by this leadership.
“Since the release of timetable and guidelines for the 2024 Ward, Local Government and State congresses by the National Headquarters of the party, certain proactive procedural measures should have been put in place for the exercise to be successful but nothing has been done.
“Since the period preceding the 2023 general election, there has been division among the ranks of leadership and followership of the party in Katsina State and more especially almost all the 2023 Campaign Management Council that work tirelessly during campaign exercise were at the receiving end of such maltreatment.
“And the Caretaker Committee Chairman, who chose to align himself with a particular interest group, did nothing to reconcile the divisions within the PDP in Katsina State.
“It is wiser for all of us to note that the first activity preceding party congress to elect officials of the party is always membership drive and update of membership register before the sales of forms, which was not done even as at this time.
“Specifically, these issues relate to the 361 wards, 34 Local Governments and 39 State Exco aspirants for Katsina State.
“We have collated about 7,101 members willing to purchase the forms, so as to participate in the upcoming congresses but have been deprived access to purchase the forms”, he said.
The Committee members said that they were told at the party National headquarters that the Chairman of the Committee took the forms about three weeks ago without their knowledge.
Continuing, he said, “We are here at the National Headquarters only to be informed that the forms are with the Caretaker Committee Chairman about three weeks ago. We are therefore appealing for the intervention of the National Working Committee (NWC) to resolve the matter for the progress, development and success of the PDP,” the Committee said.
Narrating what they have been going through in a bid to purchase the forms for the various positions, they said, “as you might have been aware that the sale of the forms draws closer i.e. Wednesday 19th June, 2024. There was a delegation of some aspirants from Katsina, Dutsinma, Malumfashi, Funtua, Mashi, Kankia and Katsina Local Government Areas that went to Katsina State PDP Headquarters to purchase forms but met a deserted Secretariat with no official of the party to attend to them and also held a press conference, were they gave a graphic account and declared in the media, on camera how the entire State Caretaker Committee flee the Secretariat in their bid to hijack the forms to favor one single individual and to evade selling same to other aspirants.
“While we are here in Abuja at Wadata Plaza to purchase the Forms but could not meet any body which necessitated us to write and forward us complain to the appropriate party authorities to take proper action on the matter.”
They, however, appealed to the National Working Committee (NWC) to intervene in the ugly development and save the party from crisis.
They added, “We therefore urge the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party to take immediate drastic measure in addressing and or resolving this crises/complaint and ensure that due process is adhered to in the sale of the forms and general conduct of the upcoming congresses and general running of the affairs of the party for unity, peace, progress and success of the party.
“While thanking the National Working Committee (NWC) in discharging their duties diligently in order for the PDP to proposer. All we are asking for is level-play ground,” they said.
