The Honourable Chille Igbawua 2023 Benue Governorship Consultative Team has described as malicious, callous and unfortunate, the statement credited to the acting National Publicity Secretary of the Youth wing of Kwande United Peoples Organisation, KWAPO, Honourable Akoso W. Iorfater to the effect that Honourable Igbawua may have endorsed the zoning of the 2023 Governorship slot to Jechira intermidiate block instead of Kwande.
The Team said it believed that the creators of this mischief deliberately misinformed the KWUPO Youth Wing in order to
accomplish their dishonourable objective.
The campaign team also stated without equivocation that Honourable Chille Igbawua, a patriotic and proud son of Kwande had advocated most forcefully at every opportunity that, in the spirit of fairness, justice and equity, the Kwande intermidiate Area should produce the next Governor of the state in 2023 for the obvious reason that the exalted office had rotated and completed the circle, adding that it would be only just and proper to begin from kwande where it started in 1979.
It stated that both on the principle of two equal equities as well as the doctrine of recency, Kwande was favoured.
A statement signed by Hon. Salem Atsehe of the Hon. Barr. Chille Igbawua Benue 2023 Consultative Team; disclosed that at an earlier meeting with G14 on the issue of zoning all the governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Kwande and Jechira had undertaken to accept the zoning to either Kwande or Jechira.
“Furthermore the 20 man Kwande Elders who canvassed for the zoning of the Governorship to Kwande also accepted this arrangement at that same meeting,” it said.
The campaign team stated that after the result of the zoning committee set up by the leadership of the PDP in the state was announced, Honourable Chille Igbawua was invited to respond on behalf of his colleague-aspirants as Forum chairman and not in his personal capacity nor on behalf of Kwande Intermediate Area.
The campaign team further stated “anywhere Hon. Barr. Chille Igbawua speaks on behalf of all PDP Governorship aspirants, he does so as chairman. He merely conveys the opinion of his colleague- aspirants as forum chairman and on that day, it was the same scenario without any resenting voice.”
He continued: “Therefore singling out the Aspirant as having endorsed zoning of the Governorship to Jechira, while other aspirants from Kwande as well as party leaders and stakeholders of Kwande extraction present raised no objection is most uncharitabl to say the least.”
“KWUPO Youth Wing had raised objection, which is proper in a democracy, but must insulate self from misinformation by mischief makers.
“It is also important to note that, Bar. Chile Igbawua believes that the process of selection of candidates for election by the PDP for the 2023 general elections just got started and the option of consensus is only being explored. All pertinent suggestions/ objections raised at this point are lawful and will help the process. It is too early in the day to be despondent,” it said.
The statement added that, kwande still had an opportunity of appeal but this must be done in the spirit of Intral-Party conflict resolution rather than resort to name calling at this stage.
“For the avoidance of doubt Hon Barr Chille Igbawua is in the race to win but also is obliged to exercise the responsibility of his office of State Chairman PDP 2023 Governorship Aspirants Forum,” the team declared.
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