Abuja — Ebonyi Democratic Movement (EDM) has petitioned President Umaru Yar'Adua over the purported adoption of Governor Martin Elechi as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2011's general election.

In a document made available to THISDAY and signed by each member of the group from the 11 local government areas of the state, the leaders said: "Few days ago, all the local government chairmen of the party and party executives members from the various local government areas were summoned to a meeting by the Ebonyi State chairman of PDP, Chief Dave Umeahi, where he told the gathering that he and the state governor had a meeting through the directive of the national chairman of the party, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, and it had been resolved that Elechi be adopted as the party's candidate for the 2011 election."

The petitioners further said that the state chairman of the party warned that anybody who would not adhere to the directive would be dealt with, stating: "By so doing, sir, the state chairman and Elechi are undemocratically and unlawfully withdrawing the fundamental human rights of legitimate party members to aspire for elective positions at the state level."

Again, the petition which was copied to Ogbulafor, said, "On Monday, November 9, 2009, the state executive of our party issued a directive to all the elected local government chairmen in the state to contribute N2.2m within 24 hours for the purpose of getting membership validation cards from Abuja."

According to the petition to the President, the EDM said, "The same day, another meeting notice was distributed through GSM text massages signed by a PDP state official stating as follows: "State chairman directed that we liaise with council chairmen and organise a meeting with stakeholders, LGA executive council supervisors, management committee members, ward executives to move, adopt and sign second tenure for our Governor, Elechi ".

The petition also said that while most of the local government chairmen and councillors are not particularly comfortable with the recent directives by the state PDP executive, they are afraid to speak out because the fear of Elechi and the PDP chairman.

In the petition, the EDM prayed Yar'Adua to intervene by calling on Elechi and Umeahi to order to avoid a break-down of law and order or repeat of what is happening in Anambra State.