By Victor Otigbu

ENUGU—The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Enugu State chapter has dismissed as mischievous and an unwarranted distraction, the recent publication in a national daily alleging a conflict of interest between Governor Sullivan Chime, national party chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu over the 2011 gubernatorial  election in the state.

The publication also alleged that Governor  Chime was planning to secure an alternative ticket to contest the 2011 perchance PDP denies him a re-election ticket over alleged differences between him and Ogbulafor.

A signed statement  yesterday by Mr. Vita Abba, state party chairman described the allegations as baseless, mischievous and a cheap blackmail contrived by disgruntled elements who have problems with the Governor’s progressive politics.

“The alleged report that, Governor Sullivan Chime is making plans to secure an alternative platform in Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to contest the next governorship election is not only laughable, but also baseless, mischievous and a cheap blackmail  that  will yield no atom of benefit to those behind this infamous  publication,” Abba said.

Reacting to other allegations in the publication, the state chairman dismissed the imputation of a rift between the Governor and the national party chairman.

Governor Sullivan  Chime enjoys a very cordial relationship with the national chairman of our great party, Prince Vincent  Ogbulafor, and it is therefore unthinkable for  one to insinuate that he could be harbouring grudges against the state Governor over an internal issue that had been resolved amicably,” the statement said.