By Abraham Olatunbosun
Activities at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja was disrupted on Monday, as some party supporters stormed the office to protest the purported disqualification of Prince Taribo Williams from the forthcoming party primary for Senatorial aspirants.
Taribo, who had purchase the nomination and expression of interest forms to contest the FCT Senatorial seat on the platform of the party but was disqualified at the party screening point.
His attempt to get the appeal committee of the party to set aside the disqualification has yielded no result.
It was gathered that even his efforts to talk to delegates to vote for him at the primaries as he believed the disqualification would be upturned at the court, has met stiff wall as a strong member of the party has been alleged to have been going round wards in the FCT threatening executives with suspension should they be seen with him (Williams).
Spokesman for the protesters, Mr. Henry Edward, told journalists at the PDP headquarters that the said Senatorial aspirant (name withheld), was trying to muscle everyone else out of the race by denying them access to delegates.
Edward said: “Against the party’s believe in fairness, equity and justice; the party at the state level has placed an embargo on the 62 political wards and the six area councils of the FCT prohibiting party executives and delegates from having any interface with Prince Taribo Williams. As we speak right now, we are talking of the statutory delegates.”
He said the party should revisit the disqualification of Williams, threatening that they would be left with no option but to seek redress in court if the National Working Committee does not intervene.
Speaking on his purported disqualification, Williams described it as unjust.
Williams, who said he had contested the same seat on the platform of the National Democratic Party (NDP) in 2007, said he was disqualified by the party for failure to present his educational certificates after he had presented an affidavit showing that he lost them during the Jos crisis of 1999.
He said despite the assurance from the appeal panel of the party, which told him there was no reason for his disqualification, he was yet being denied, as the party failed to reverse the said action ahead of the party primary.
While still awaiting a positive reaction from the party, Williams however said he has placed his lawyers on notice for necessary action within next 48 hours.
He said: “I feel robbed of my right to represent the good people of the FCT, Abuja at the Senate. I will take the case up at the court if I am not allowed to run.
“I have consulted with my lawyers and we are giving the party 48 hours to reverse the decision, failure of which we will take them to court.”
Speaking on his aspiration, Williams said, “My passion to run now more than ever is because of the hypocrisy of the incumbent Senator representing FCT who has been unable to deliver the democratic dividends to all and sundry in the constituency.
“Due to his tribal, sentimental and regional politics, FCT has lost a great deal, this is the place for all Nigerians to live freely, play politics freely and serve the people living in the FCT with decorum and respect.
“One of my greatest agitations in the FCT is decentralization of AMAC from the seat of the President of Nigeria. Abuja was created to reflect the real image of Nigeria where tribal, ethnicity or religion does not hold any relevance.
‘Abuja is a city that promotes unity, oneness and freedom for all Nigerians to aspire to live, to contest, to serve Nigeria in any capacity both in politics or in business.
“And as an aspirant, I have investments in the FCT – over N16 billion, spanning projects from road construction, real estate and hotel acquisitions in the FCT since 2006 till date.
“So I have enough investments to motivate me to protect and safeguard investments, and promote development in the other area councils aside AMAC to realize the yearning of the people of FCT for FCT State.”
