The aggrieved party members, led by Chief Timi Seimiebo Ekeni; Chief Akunu Richard Ekeni; Menash Umowei Ezetu; Rankin Alamene Foropah and Tonbra Fawei Foropah, claimed that the Ward 14 members were barred from participating in the just-concluded ward delegate congress in the party.
Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of Ward 14 of Southern Ijaw Constituency 4 of Bayelsa State have accused the state party chairman, Cleopas Moses, of fraud over the conduct of the ad-hoc ward congress in the area.
The aggrieved party members, led by Chief Timi Seimiebo Ekeni; Chief Akunu Richard Ekeni; Menash Umowei Ezetu; Rankin Alamene Foropah and Tonbra Fawei Foropah, claimed that the Ward 14 members were barred from participating in the just-concluded ward delegate congress in the party.
The aggrieved party members, in a signed statement issued on Wednesday in Yenagoa, noted that with data and brief historical background into the political history; with all the various political appointments in all the wards, they were “shocked beyond words that a state party chairman, Hon. Moses Cleopas, would boldly declare that Ward 14 is barred from contesting the state house of Assembly elections just because Late Hon. Bometei Alamene was a member of the state house of Assembly.”
The statement continued: “Also added as the result of the ‘sin’ of Ward 14 is to bar them from conducting the just-concluded ward delegate congress in the party. With the clear disobedience to the state governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson’s directive and the stakeholders of the constituency, the state PDP chairman, Hon. Moses Cleopas, without consulting the ward 14 leadership, single-handedly shortlisted the delegates in the ward without regard to the constituents.
"As a constituency, we have agreed that what the state party chairman, Hon. Moses Cleopas, did was a clear violation of party rules and an unacceptable slap on the faces of the people of the area. We demand, as a matter of urgency, that a new delegate election be held.
"The zoning of the Assembly ticket to Apoi ward 15 is unacceptable to us for the following reasons: With due respect Sir, we refer you to the data where the various political appointees are displayed with names, tenure and benefits. You will see that all the wards are being loaded with political appointments, with the exception of ward 14 which has been abandoned and neglected. The so-called Apoi ward, which is ward 15 has produced more than four commissioners with the statistics showing below, therefore there is no way we can open our eyes wide to see this injustice in our generation.
"In your recent cabinet reshuffle, the only political appointment from the ward, Hon. Williams Alamene, former Commissioner for Environment, was sacked only for us to see that the position was given to Hon. Ebipatei Apaingolo, Commissioner for Environment, from Koluama 2 in ward 17, where his father is a serving member of the NDU Governing Council Board. A ward whereby political appointments are overloaded.
"With all fairness, and justice, Ward 14 is qualified to contest the House of Assembly position to keep the PDP family as one. Sir, use your good office to look into this matter, knowing full well that during the general election, the state party chairman, Hon. Moses Cleopas, will be in Koluama 2, not in ward 14, which is Foropah, Ekeni and Ezetu Communities.
"It is only the leadership of the PDP family in ward 14 that will be in those communities. If it’s that easy, why is it that Hon. Moses Cleopas and his people do not bring results for the past two elections in Koluama 2 ward 17?
“With this singular act, the state party chairman, Hon. Cleopas Moses, does not have the charisma to lead the party to victory during the forthcoming general election. Therefore, the leadership of ward 14 hereby passes a vote of no confidence in the state party chairman, Hon. Moses Cleopas."
Meanwhile efforts to get reaction from Moses Cleopas, the state PDP chairman proved abortive as he wasn’t taking calls or responding to text messages.