Ogbulafor promises to revisit parallel congresses

Ayodele Adesanmi, Abuja - 16.03.2008

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, has said that the national leadership of the party will revisit complaints arising from the recently concluded congresses across the country. Prince Ogbulafor, in a telephone interview with Sunday Tribune confirmed that he is aware of protests over the outcome of the congresses of the party in some states and zones, saying that the new National Working Committee (NWC)has not had the time to look into the various complaints.

It would be recalled that Prince Ogbulafor, was elected into office penultimate Saturday but, effectively took over the national Chairmanship of the PDP on Tuesday when his predecessor, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, handed over to him at a brief ceremony at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

According to him, “I just resumed and before I can speak I need to consult the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) because INEC is supposed to have monitored the congresses.”

The chairman further declared that since he assumed office he has not had the time to peruse through the files containing the reports of the congresses.

He added, “I need to look at the files. Since we resumed what has been going on are ceremonies but from Monday next week I will settle down for serious work.”

Meanwhile, the national vice chairman, South East, Chief Olisa Metu, said he is awaiting the directives of the PDP national leadership before he wades into the states where the outcome of the congresses has polarized the party in the zone.

According to him, “I have my own ideas of what to do but I am waiting for the directives of the national chairman who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PDP”.

Chief Metu further declared that as soon as the PDP national leadership identifies the states that had problems and gives him the green light he will send prominent party South Easterners to the states to resolve issues arising from the congresses.