WE'LL NOT JOIN ISSUES WITH INEC -PDP

Ahead the of rerun governorship primaries slated for today in Kogi and Kano States by the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), National Working Committee, (NWC), the party leadership appears to be in dilemma over how to wriggle itself out of INEC's deadline stipulated for conduct of party primaries.. The electoral body had insisted that all parties must complete the conduct of their primaries on or before 15th January 2011.

The PDP NWC had at the weekend in a press statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali fixed today for re-run primaries in Kogi and Kano States.

But reacting to INEC's insistence not to participate in the rerun being planned by the ruling party its Legal Adviser, Olusola Oke told Daily Sun that the PDP would not join issues with the electoral agency on the pages of newspapers, . 'INEC isn't court, we will not join issues on pages of newspapers; we aren't in court, ' he said.

' We will meet INEC to clarify on issues and when  that fails, we will go to court. It isn't for INEC  to clarify the law. It is the court that is the appropriate institution to clarify the law,'' Oke submitted.

But a Daily Sun source disclosed the party might drop the scheduled  governorship primaries. The Daily Sun source revealed that Kogi State Governor, Ibrahim Idris  had told the PDP NWC that he would not be able to guarantee the safety and security of party faithful for a re-run primary.

Advancing reasons for the planned primaries that transcends the gubernatorial to include senatotorial rerun in some districts, the PDP identified the need to 'provide a level playing field for all aspirants, and in view of the overall need to ensure continued unity and cohesion among the ranks and file of our members which is essential for us to achieve victory in the April 2011 general elections.' The governorship primaries in Kano State had earlier been won by former governor of the state, Rabiu Kwankwaso while Jibril Isah Ochecho won in Kogi State.

The PDP NWC also ordered  rerun primaries in some senatorial districts, which include Oyo Central and Kogi West. The Senate majority leader, Senator Teslim Folarin and Senator Smart Adeyemi presently occupy the seats. Other senatorial districts, where the party scheduled to hold rerun primaries tomorrow are Delta Central, Kogi East, Sokoto East, Bauchi North, Taraba North and Adamawa North and South senatorial districts, respectively.

Meanwhile,  following the intervention of the Presidency, a nine-man committee had been constituted to reconcile the PDP factions in Anambra State. A meeting earlier scheduled for yesterday by the PDP NWC to meet with the Benji Udeozor and Emmanuel Nweze factions at Wadata  Plaza was called off  following the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan who met with the two factions, with PDP south- east executive in attendance on Sunday night.

The two factions had been laying claim to the leadership of the Anambra PDP.'' The President had constituted a nine-man committee with Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim as chairman to look at the crisis and harmonise the factions,'' Daily Sun source further revealed.