Ebonyi PDP reverses zoning arrangement for council poll

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi State has reversed its 2010 zoning arrangement in respect of local government chairmanship positions.
Governor Martin Elechi announced the change on Monday during the party’s expanded State Executive Council meeting in Abakaliki, the state capital.
Elechi noted that the reversal was due to the impressive performance of council chairmen and for the sake of continuity.
The initial zoning arrangement allowed some communities thet have not produced council chairmen to contest the seat in the September 28 poll.
Elechi, who said that the party was not contradicting itself by changing the zoning formula, called on members to appreciate the “critical imperatives” that necessitated the change.
“The decision of the party supersedes that of any community as it would compensate individuals from aggrieved communities for fairness and equity,” he said.
According to the governor, the party will assess the behaviour of the contestants to ensure that they are “behaviorally fit” to occupy such positions.
The governor said: “We will ascertain the supporters and sponsors of the aspirants to determine whether they are being used to penetrate and destabilise the party.
“We will identify those being sponsored by money bags and ensure that only those who will not bring regrettable situation to us are nominated.”
Elechi also said the party would abide by the directive issued by its national headquarters to allot more elective positions to women by giving them more slots in the contest.
“We will ensure that only those that uphold the dignity of womanhood in both religious and traditional terms are allowed to contest,” he said.
Elechi debunked the notion that politics was a “dirty game”, saying that “only the activities of ill-minded people and their behaviour make it appear dirty”.
“When the right people occupy political offices with accompanying justifiable behaviour, politics becomes a veritable way of actualising the developmental dreams of the people,” he said.
Chief Ugorji Amah-Oti, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, said the party would field the right candidates to win the poll.
“Our party has emerged from its challenges stronger as the offices and billboards of opposing parties are not seen anywhere, which signifies their non-existence,” Amah-Oti said.