Anambra governorship election tears PDP apart National Chairman, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur THERE was a sharp disagreement in the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday over the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State as the party’s candidate, Tony Nwoye, openly flayed the national headquarters and state chapter of the party for praising the conduct of the poll. The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, had on Sunday described the election as ‘free and fair’ even when Nwoye joined his All Progressives Congress and Labour Party counterparts, Chris Ngige and Ifeanyi Ubah, respectively in calling for its cancellation. On Wednesday in Awka, the Chairman of the state chapter, Mr. Ken Emeakayi, did the same as Metuh by describing the poll as credible. Emeakayi had told a news conference that the PDP would participate in the supplementary election, which Nwoye is against. Emeakayi had told the journalists that the decision to commend and participate in the supplementary election was taken at an emergency meeting of the state working committee of the party. He said, “We state categorically and unequivocally that the PDP will participate in the supplementary election in the contentious areas of the state as announced by INEC(Independent National Electoral Commission), and we charge our members to continue to remain calm and focused.” He accused the APC of trying to cause disaffection within the PDP by using some members to make statements that were inimical to the position of the PDP on the election. But a miffed Nwoye, through his campaign organisation, said he was surprised “that certain highly placed officers of the party” could go to the press to make comments about the election without consulting him. Nwoye, through his campaign organisation, dissociated himself from the position of the state working committee of the PDP. At a separate news conference also on Wednesday, the Director-General of the organisation, Mr. Osita Ezenwa, said, “The election has been poorly conducted and what remains is for INEC to conduct a fresh election. If we win, fine. If we don’t, we will congratulate the winner.” Ezenwa, in company with Ken Arinze and Clems Ezika, added, “I don’t see why someone should be in a hurry to congratulate INEC or any other person on an election that has not been concluded.” The organisation later released a statement in which it condemned Metuh for commending the election without consulting it. The statement from its ICT and Communication Unit was signed by Ikeagwuonwu Chinedu, Okwu Okwu, Ikechukwu Onyia and Orjika Chidi. The statement reads in part , “It is a common knowledge that the Anambra State governorship election that held across the state on November 16, 2013, was marred by irregularities. “There has been widespread condemnation of the exercise by members of the civil society groups, Anambrarians, the Conference of Nigerian Political parties and election observers and monitors. “Even Prof. Jega went on air to apologise to Anambrarians on the poor conduct of the election. “In spite of these flaws and more witnessed during the exercise, Metuh went on air to announce that the election was free and fair “In a show of shame, Metuh made his statement giving credibility to an election in which his candidate and all his family members, including some of his cousins were disenfranchised and prevented from voting.” It wondered why the PDP spokesperson did not contact Nwoye before making his “shameful statement.” The organisation also accused him of sabotaging the PDP during the election.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 06:38:02 +0000