Bribe-For-Ticket: Clear Our Names Now, Uche Secondus-Led PDP NWC Begs Obaseki

Pained by allegation that it collected money before giving Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, a ticket after he defected from the All Progressives Congress following his failure to clinch the ruling Party’s governorship ticket, the outgoing national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Wednesday, pleaded that the governor must come out and clear their names.

This allegation, which was made by Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, during the struggle over who controls the party and eventually led to the exit of Mr Uche Secondus, gained currency leading to attack and counter attack few months ago.

But still feeling weighed down by the allegation from a high ranking member of the party and governor, the party called on Obaseki to speak up as silence could be taken as the truth.

Speaking at a valedictory session held in honour of the Prince Uche Secondus-led leadership at the party’s secretariat Wednesday, the outgoing national publicity secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan denied demanding or collecting any form of financial gratification before handing Obaseki the ticket of the party.

Speaking at the event, Mr Ologbondiyan said, “Let me state without mincing words that the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, owe the members of this NWC the responsibility of clearing our names before the public.

“I will like to place on record that this NWC did not demand for any form of gratification from Obaseki before he got the ticket of our party.

“It is also important to restate that this NWC did not demand any form of “tax” from Governor Obaseki neither did we collect same. He, therefore, owes it a duty to clear our names,” he said.

Wike had pointedly alleged that, “They are tax collectors,” refering to Secondus and his NWC members then.

Continuing Wike said, “Let them challenge me and I will come out with more facts. Nobody will rubbish me by raising false accusations against me. I will fight back,” Wike was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Rivers state Commissioner of Information, Paulinus Nsirim.

However, Ologbondiyan still expressed satisfaction with their performance saying, “Before the 2019 elections, we had already added three governors from Sokoto, Kwara, and Benue States.

“The Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives led a good number of their colleagues to team up with the party. The All Progressives Congress, APC adopted a reckless maximum rigging to snatch Ekiti and Osun.

“We rebuilt the party in content and character and this made it an attraction. We came out of the election with 17 governors, the APC stole Imo State while three governors later left the party to pursue personal endeavours which were not as a result of NWC’s fault.

“The 2018 elective national convention which produced our Presidential candidate was adjudged the best. It was keenly contested and not by consensus. In the end, none of the aspirants left the party.

“The NWC carried out reforms that stopped the use of Ghana Must Go to win nominations or tickets, restructured the workforce and adopted a smart approach. For many years, the party was unable to conduct online registration of its members.

“Today we have our members registering online and our party has become digitally prepared ahead of any other party in our country. “

The valedictory session was attended by prominent party chieftains including incoming national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, national secretary-elect, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Tanimu Turaki among others.