Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida has refuted insinuation that he is in a supremacy battle with former president Olusegun Obasanjo over who becomes the national chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A national newspaper (not LEADERSHIP) had reported a no-love lost between the two former leaders over who becomes the national chairman of PDP in its convention that holds early in January next year.

IBB in a statement last night said that he is not in league with those who hijack party structures "through imposition of candidates but is more attuned to a process that helps in nurturing party structures through process and credible election in line with the wishes and aspirations of the collective."

The former military president stressed that a democracy that provides as platform for people's will to prevail through free choice and credible election would ordinarily enthrone genuine leaderships that are truly representative of the people.

The statement which was signed by his media assistant, Prince Kassim Afegbua also noted that in this jet age of democratic renaissance, "anyone who still believes in the old canard of imposing leadership on the people has no business in our renewed effort at democratic process. In fact, such people should be watched closely."

In the countdown to the PDP convention, IBB, the statement said is suing for co-operation, understanding, tolerance, and deep commitment to the democratic process.

Meanwhile, a group of Ebonyi State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP leaders have refuted the purported adoption of former governor of the state, Dr. Sam Omiyi Egwu for the chairmanship of the party.

In a press statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday a group of Ebonyi State PDP leaders under the auspices of Ebonyi Redemption Initiative, faulted the purported adoption, noting that "it was not only diversionary, but an attempt to pool the wool over delegates and send false signals to the whole country regarding the true position of things in the state."

The statement which was signed by the group's chairman and vice, Chief Onwe S. Onwe and chief Aja Enyi respectively, stated that; "the roles played by some of the aspirants currently jostling to occupy the PDP top position, in failed contracts and obnoxious third term agenda are still fresh in the minds of the citizens."