By OBSERVERS TIMES
As the North Central Zone chairmanship election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gets underway in Jos, Hon. Stephen Abraham Ajiya, a leading contender for the position, has leveled serious allegations of internal sabotage and a compromised process, expressing grave concerns about the integrity of the party.
In an exclusive chat with The Sun early Saturday morning, Ajiya revealed that members of the PDP Caucus are actively backing a “sponsored aspirant,” Abdulraham Mohammed, who he claims was “planted by defecting Philip Aduda.”
Ajiya stated that he was summoned to a Caucus meeting early Saturday morning with the sole purpose of being pressured to withdraw from the race in favor of Mohammed.
“I was invited to the caucus meeting today (early morning Saturday) and was told to step down for their preferred candidate, and I refused,” Ajiya emphatically stated.
He identified those present at the meeting, alleging their complicity in the attempt to undermine his candidacy: “In attendance were the host Governor, the Governor of Plateau State Mutfwang, former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, Senator Onawo of Niger State, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, Senator Peter Jiya of Niger State, former Governor of Benue State Mr. Ortom, all the other party chairmen, and other conspirators.”
Ajiya did not mince words regarding the party’s current state: “I can now understand why PDP is in such a mess. I am not going to step down for anybody after all I have done to get here. Not only that, I need to contribute my quota to rebuild this party. These men I just listed have nothing to offer this party anymore, and it has just been shown clearly.”
He further detailed his disappointment, particularly with a trusted associate. “Can you imagine what I saw? The man whom I trusted so much, Senator Abba Moro, was the one who accosted me to step down. I didn’t know that he snitched and had negotiated with my candidacy.”
Despite the alleged pressure, Ajiya affirmed his resolve. “I made them all regret their actions or whatever was promised to them because I refused to step down right in the caucus meeting. So right now, I don’t care what the outcome of the election is. But I am going into the election later in the day gallantly. I just want to let Nigerians know that the party called PDP has been sold to another by its so-called founding fathers.”
Ajiya concluded by linking these alleged internal maneuvers to external political plots. He suggested this effort is “not far from the plot of the ruling APC to ensure that Wike ensures that the FCT is made entirely an APC State.”
