On Monday, some party members stormed the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja to protest the alleged exclusion of Prince Taribo Williams from the next party primary.
Taribo, who bought the nomination and expression of interest forms to run for the FCT Senatorial seat on the party’s platform, was disqualified at the party screening, and his attempt to have the disqualification overturned by the party’s appeal committee failed.
Even his attempts to persuade delegates to vote for him in primaries because he believed the disqualification would be overturned in court hit a brick wall when a powerful member of the party was accused of going around wards in the FCT threatening executives with suspension if they were seen with him.
Mr. Henry Edward, a spokesman for the demonstrators, informed reporters at the PDP headquarters that a Senatorial candidate (name withheld) was attempting to force everyone else out of the race by denying them access to delegates.
Edward said: “Against the party’s believe in fairness, equity and justice; the party at the state level has placed an embargo on the 62 political wards and the six area councils of the FCT prohibiting party executives and delegates from having any interface with Prince Taribo Williams. As we speak right now, statutory delegates.”
He stated the party should reconsider Williams’ disqualification, adding that if the National Working Committee does not intercede, they will be forced to seek redress in court.
Willams regarded his alleged disqualification as unjust.
Williams, who claimed he ran for the same seat in 2007 on the banner of the National Democratic Party, said he was rejected by the party for failing to provide his educational certificates after presenting an affidavit claiming he misplaced them during the 1999 Jos crisis.
He said that despite assurances from the party’s appeal tribunal that there was no justification for his disqualification, he was still refused since the party neglected to overturn the action before the party primary.
While Willaims is still waiting for a positive response from the party, he has put his lawyers on notice to take any necessary action within the next 48 hours.
He said: “I feel robbed of my right to represent the good people of the FCT, Abuja at the Senate. I will take the case up at the court if I am not allow to run.”
“I have consulted with my lawyers and we are given the party 48 hours to reverse the early decision, failure of which we will take them to court.”
Speaking on his aspiration, Willaims said, “My passion to run now more than ever is because of the hypocrisy of the incumbent Senator representing FCT who has been unable to deliver the democratic dividends to all and sundry in the constituency.
“Due to his tribal, sentimental and regional politics, FCT has lost a great deal, this is the place for all Nigerians to live freely, play politics freely and serve the people living in the FCT with decorum and respect.
“One of my greatest agitation in the FCT is decentralization of AMAC from the Sit of the President of Nigeria. Abuja is created to reflect the real image of Nigeria where tribal, ethnicity or religion does not hold any relevance.
Abuja is a city that promotes unity, oneness and freedom for all Nigerians to aspire to live, to contest, to serve Nigeria in any capacity both in politics or in business. And as an aspirant I have investments in FCT that is over N16 billion, spanning projects fr road construction, real estate and hotel acquisitions in the FCT since 2006 till date. So I have enough investments to motivate me to protect and safeguard investments, and promote development in the other area councils aside AMAC to realize the yearning of the people of FCT for FCT State. ”
