By Henry Umoru

ABUJA—STRONG indications emerged yesterday that the crisis rocking the Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has deepened, following some irreconcilable differences between the state governor, Martins Elechi and some stakeholders of the party.

This came as chairman Ebonyi State Reconciliatory Committee and governor Godswill  Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state has summoned Governor Martins Elechi of Ebonyi and other stakeholders to a meeting today in Abuja.

The meeting according to a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh would hold 4 pm today at the Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

Metuh said, “The Ebonyi State Reconciliation Committee set up by the National Working Committee (NWC) has scheduled to meet at the Akwa-Ibom State Lodge in Abuja on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 4pm.

“At the reconciliatory meeting, Ebonyi state, Governor, His Excellency, Governor Martins Elechi is expected to appear before the committee leading a five-man team while the other group is also expected to appear with a delegation of five stakeholders.”

Meanwhile, as part of moves to nip in the bud, the lingering political quagmire in the State ahead of 2015 general and presidential elections, the National leadership of PDP yesterday set up a three- man reconciliatory Committee saddled with the responsibility of bringing together all major stakeholders in the state as well as end the problem.

In a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the Committee which has the Akwa Ibom State governor and Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio as Chairman, has his colleagues in Abia and Ekiti States, Theodore Orji and Ayodele Fayose respectively as members.

Metuh said, “In response to enquires raised by a false media report, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wishes to announce to the general public that the Ebonyi State House of Assembly Primaries was successfully conducted last Saturday, November 29, 2014.

“The NWC states that the result of the exercise has since been received at the national secretariat of the PDP in Abuja. The national leadership urges members of the party, especially in Ebonyi state to totally disregard any other report as incorrect. However, a special three-man reconciliation committee has been set by the NWC to reconcile all major stakeholders in the state to achieve the desired unity before the general elections. The committee includes Governors Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state, Theodore Orji of Abia state and Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state.”

It would be recalled that the problem confronting the Ebonyi PDP, last week took a new twist as a committee of elders and major stakeholders called on the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu to suspend all primary elections in the state pending resolutions of the crisis.

Leader of the forum, Senator Anyim Ude, who spoke for the group loyal to governor Elechi alleged that the results of the ward congress held in the state on November 1 and submitted to the National Secretariat of the party was falsified, just as he claimed the results were different from what was recorded during the ward congress.