The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been forced to cancel its delegate election in Etsako Central local government area after eight electoral officials were abducted by gunmen on Sunday.
The incident occurred during the party’s ward delegate congress, which was held to select delegates for the upcoming state congress scheduled for February 22nd.
According to the state chairman of the party, Mr. Tony Aziegbemi, the decision to cancel the election in Etsako Central was made by the Governor of Enugu, Peter Mbah, who led the five-man ward delegates congress committee.
He said: “We had one ugly incident during the Sunday ward delegates congress in the state. Eight electoral officials deployed to Etsako Central local government area were abducted by gunmen at Jattu in Etsako West local government area.
“In spite of the incident, the exercise went on smoothly in the other 17 local government areas.
“Meanwhile, the ward delegates congress committee led by the Governor of Enugu State, Barrister Peter Mbah, has cancelled the result of the ward congress in Etsako central local government as a result of the kidnapping incident.
“In their own wisdom, they decided to cancel the outcome because the result in the locality will not affect the result of the other 17 local governments.”
He also confirmed that the abducted officials are still being held captive and that Governor Godwin Obaseki has reported the incident to the relevant authorities, including the state Commissioner of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, and the Inspector-General of Police.
Meanwhile, the party is facing an internal challenge from nine aggrieved governorship aspirants who have protested the conduct of the delegate election. Mr. Aziegbemi acknowledged their right to protest but urged them to channel their grievances through the proper channels, such as the Appeal panel set up by the party’s National Working Committee.
He said the party leadership remains committed to transparency and fairness and urged all members to refrain from making public statements that could undermine the party’s integrity.
