09:19:24: While a groundswell of public opinion has punctured holes in the decision of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, granting automatic tickets to the party’s serving National Assembly members, the PDP appears to be making deliberate efforts to appease and reassure those protesting this decision in Cross River State, that all is not lost.
We gathered that Emma Ogidi, PDP Vice Chairman, South South, arrived Calabar yesterday (Sunday) to address stakeholders and aspirants, who recently staged a well attended protest against the decision.
A source inside the PDP in CRS told www.calitown.com that “we appreciate that Ogidi is here, but we have only one thing to tell him; all of us aspiring to whatever position must be allowed to derive our mandates from the people. We are not representing ourselves but the people and for sure the decision to give automatic tickets is borne out of fear and double standards, we want equity and nothing else.”
However, some of those initially involved in the protest, have jumped bus, abandoning the PDP and grabbing political opportunities in other political parties, pursuant to contesting elections next year. Today’s meeting may achieve little as the PDP is not known to be a party that easily makes a u-turn in matters of this nature especially for the part money and intrigues play in the party.