The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reversed the disqualification of Prince Tonye Princewill, an aspirant in the 2015 governorship election in Rivers state.
A statement titled “Disqualification lifted, but PDP needs to do more”, made available to Blank NEWS Online by Wabiye Idoniboye-Obu
Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity to Prince Tonye Princewill reads:
“Today the National Working Committee of my party the PDP, proved that there is still hope for the “little guy” in Nigeria. The suspicious disqualification and open betrayal of myself and other key members of the party resulting from a kangaroo screening was cancelled. This is a victory for democracy and a warning to politicians that politics in Nigeria can not be business as usual. I have finally been cleared to partake in the PDP guber primaries. Thank you for you prayers. They worked. He listened. But PDP needs to do more.
‘Now this screening chapter is closed, we need to make sure that the 419 kangaroo congresses for Rivers State also suffer the same fate. We have no clear & credible delegates list to decide our candidates from the house of assembly to the National Assembly to Governor. Our prayers have brought us this far. God bless all of you for your support. Keep on praying and watch destiny take its course. Money is not everything. In the battle for Rivers state, David will always win Goliath.”
Recall that Princewill’s earlier disqualification had been described as pathetic and desperate by Wabiye Idoniboye-Obu, who had also in a statement condemned the action.
“Unconfirmed reports have it that the PDP South – South screening committee has obeyed Wike’s instruction and disqualified Prince Tonye Princewill from contesting for Governor of Rivers state under the platform of PDP.
“The reason they gave, is that Prince Tonye is not a member of the PDP.Nyesom Wike’s involvement is glaring as the disqualification came in reaction to a petition submitted by his GDI executive in Asari-Toru LGA.
“This move is not just pathetic but desperate. After Prince Tonye raised hundreds of millions for the party, donated a multi-million Naira media center to the national HQ and participated in all affairs of the party he was invited to; his pay back was straight forward and clear. The Rivers State PDP does not want Tonye Princewill to even contest. If this decision is true, it marks a new low in our state’s politics. Will confirm for sure later today, but our sources are pretty reliable.
“After consultations into the early hours with his think tank and a few of his political associates, Prince Tonye Princewill has decided to let the public determine his next move. The reasonable options are to:
1. Appeal the committee’s decision,
2. Quit politics altogether,
3. Stay in the PDP even though they say he is not one of them
or
4. Go to another party (not APC) and run.
“While he ponders on these four options, Prince Tonye wants to restate that his commitment to the Goodluck Jonathan re-election is still strong whether PDP ticket or not.
“It may interest you to know that in addition to disqualifying Prince Tonye; Nimi Walson Jack, Bekinbo Dagogo Jack and Dumo Lulu Briggs, just to mention a few, were also disqualified for the same reason. The writing is on the wall. This is a sad day for internal democracy. But the voice of the people will always be loudest”, the statement had said.
