Anambra guber: 26 aspirants jostle for PDP ticket Anambra guber: 26 aspirants jostle for PDP ticket • Uzoh, Andy Uba, Anenih’s wife in race • Rumbles over Jonathan’s candidate Ahead of the August 24 primary election to pick the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Anambra governorship election, 26 members of the party have signified their interests for the party’s ticket. The governorship election will hold on November 16, 2013. Daily Sun gathered that those who indicated interest in the PDP ticket are former Minister for Women Affairs, Mrs. Josephine Anenih; Senator Andy Uba, who represents Anambra South in the National Assembly; Nicholas Ukachukwu, Senators Emmanuel Anosike, Alponsus Igbeke and the Special Adviser to the President on Technical Matters, Akachukwu Nwankpo. Also on the list are Dr. Obinna Uzoh, businessman and philanthropist; Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu, Mr Michael Okoye, Sonny Ugokwe, Tony Nwoye and Chuba Ikpeazu. Daily Sun checks revealed that the entreaties made to the aspirants to allow a consensus candidate fell on deaf ears, as the major contenders had insisted on a primary election, which must be free, fair and transparent. Daily Sun source further disclosed that the argument being advanced by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) for consensus was to avoid the intractable acrimony that had always ensued after the conduct of the primary in the state. However, the major contenders, according to a source were not convinced by the persuasion, as “some of them were worried that it was a ploy to give advantage to a particular aspirant believed to be close to the Presidency.” Further investigation by Daily Sun also revealed that Nwankpo, a presidential aide, who doubles as the Secretary to the Committee on SURE-P, is believed to have the sympathy of President Goodluck Jonathan. Indication that the consensus option may have collapsed was given by Chairman, Anambra State chapter of the party, Chief Ken Emeakayi, yesterday, while speaking with newsmen at the party’s national secretariat, after a closed-door meeting between the PDP NWC and stakeholders from Anambra State. Emeakayi declared that the consensus option was not acceptable, as he noted that it was undemocratic and would further polarise the party in Anambra. His remarks: “There is nothing like consensus candidate. We are preparing for our primary for the party, the primary is coming up on August 24 and it would be won and lost on the ground. So, there is nothing like consensus.” -THE SUN.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 10:19:00 +0000
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