Makarfi seeks free, fair elections in 2019

• Court restrains PDP from holding congress in Ogun
• Abia State working committee declares all offices contestable

The Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has advocated free and fair elections in 2019.

He made the call at the Uyo Township stadium in Akwa Ibom State, to commence the campaign for the December 2 local council poll in the state.

He said it was because of the PDP’s stance on free election that it surrendered power to the opposition in 2015, despite some noticeable flaws.

According to him, the PDP is like a religion in the state, and asked the people not to allow rumour mongers to contaminate their ranks,

Makarfi stressed that Akwa Ibom is crucial to the expected victory in the 2019 general elections, and urged the people to support the drive.

He said: “The state House of Assembly is now 100 per cent PDP and I have no doubt that the local council election would produce all party executives.

He commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for standing by the party and taking it to this level, while assuring those returning to the party of equal opportunities.

The governor urged the people not to look outside the PDP, as it is the only organ that would provide them the needed democratic dividends.

The state chairman, Paul Ekpo, presented party flags to the chairmen of the 31 local councils

Meanwhile, a Magistrate’s Court in Isabo-Abeokuta yesterday restrained a panel set up by the National Caretaker Committee to conduct congresses to elect new officers.

The five-man panel had already conducted ward and local council congresses, while the state congress was to hold on Saturday.

The judgment was delivered in a suit filed by the Dayo Bayo’s faction challenging the legality of the congresses.

Magistrate Idowu Olayinka retrained the panel from “engaging in any physical confrontation likely to lead to the breach of peace in any part of state.”

But Sunday Solarin, a member of the caretaker committee led by Tunde Odanye, told journalists that: “Nothing has changed and nothing has been affected. The Saturday congress is going to be held. It would be conducted by the electoral panel sent to the state by the national chapter of the party.”

In Abia State, the party’s working committee yesterday released a seven-point communiqué to make all offices contestable in line with the PDP zoning formula.

The Chairman of the party, Johnson Onuigbo, said the committee also passed a vote of confidence in the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.