ANAMBRA 2013: Thrills and frills at PDP primaries

in politics

CLAIMS of disenfranchisement and monetary inducement by some aspirants, have continued to trail the PDP governorship primaries conducted by the Ken Emeakayi-led faction of the party.

It was gathered that many of the 1500 delegates from the 326 wards that voted were financially enticed by agents of the aspirants. But how many of them succumbed remains an issue especially given that Nwoye, who won the primaries would not be considered the richest or a moneybag in the Anambra sense of estimation of money.

At the Women Development Centre where accreditation took place, delegates had a hectic time entering the venue, as some were refused accreditation for non possession of party’s membership card.

A Director General of one of the aspirants, who spoke with Vanguard on condition of anonymity, regretted that eligible delegates were disenfranchised through that process.

“Delegates are being stopped because they don’t have party’s card. That is not supposed to be the criteria. I have never voted with a voter’s card before. Once you are a delegate, it is assumed that you have fulfilled all the needed requirements to participate in the exercise” he stated.

Tony who?

Tony Nwoye’s victory in the PDP governorship primaries was shocking to many, especially to those outside the mainstream of the PDP in Anambra State. This was especially so since he was not regarded as one of the money bags in the party and was not known to be among the early front runners.

Nwoye polled 498 votes ahead of his closest rival, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, who polled 357 votes at the keenly contested primary election conducted at the Women Development Centre, off Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Awka.

The exercise was originally scheduled for the Alex Ekwueme Square at 10 am, but it did not commence until about 6 p.m. after rigorous verification of the delegates and those who did not have party’s cards were turned back.

Party officials, who handled the process amid tight security called in the delegates according to their local governments. Some people were caught claiming the identities of delegates.

As results came in early yesterday morning there was excitement in the camps of Ukachukwu and Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo following momentary leads by the two aspirants, but their joy turned sober as Nwoye caught up and took over.

Nwoye: Payback for the student activist

Comrade Tony Nwoye who was announced as the winner of the PDP governorship primaries early yesterday is a man of many ironies.

If endorsed by the PDP he could end up becoming one of the youngest governors in the country, if elected. Nwoye who is now 38 won recognition as national president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS and subsequently used the platform to firmly plant himself on the political landscape in his native Anambra State.

Born as a twin on September 13, 1974, Nwoye, while at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka was elected national president of NANS in December, 2003 and became the first and only Igbo man to hold that office.

He served on several Federal Government committees and boards and was a delegate to the National Political Reform Conference in 2005. In the same year, he was appointed assistant secretary of the PDP in Anambra State, a position he held until 2006 when he was appointed chairman of the party.

He was a close associate of the then presidential aide, Andy Uba, who subsequently won the 2007 gubernatorial election with Nwoye as chairman of the PDP.

In the 2011 general election, Nwoye contested for a seat in the House of Representatives to represent Anambra East/West Federal Constituency, but even though the courts upheld his election and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC issued him a certificate of return, he has till date remained outside on the basis of legal technicalities.

Nwoye’s win in the PDP governorship primaries conducted by the party, however, again puts him at odds this time has come with that of Senator Andy Uba, who won the rival primaries conducted by a rival faction of the party, headed by Ejike Oguebego, an associate of Chief Chris Uba.

Even though the Oguebego faction of the party has been disowned by the national secretariat of the PDP, Senator Uba is banking on the recognition given the faction by INEC.

Will Andy Uba be second time lucky?

FOR the second time in three attempts, Senator Andy Uba, weekend, emerged as the Anambra State gubernatorial candidate of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He was the party’s candidate in 2007 and went on to win the governorship election. He was sworn-in as governor; he was on the saddle for 17 days before the Supreme Court asked him to step down because Governor Peter Obi’s tenure had not elapsed. The development made him to be known as the ’17-day governor.’

Andy Uba’s attempt to ‘automatically’ take over from Obi on account of his ‘2007 mandate’ did not yield dividend at party and court levels. He was denied the PDP ticket in 2010 as the party favoured Professor Chukwuma Soludo.

This time, it is to be seen whether Anambra people will return the mandate to him. And this will depend on what happens with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which does not recognize his PDP faction, but is backed by the party hierarchy.

Ngige’s endorsement forecloses aspirants’ chances — CNPP

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, yesterday said that the political calculations, which threw up Dr. Chris Ngige as candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has foreclosed the chances of candidates of other political parties in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, Mr. Osita Okechukwu who said this in a statement issued in Abuja, was emphatic that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, should forget dreaming of winning the election.

He said the umbrella body of registered political parties bid the ruling APGA farewell from the state. ”The CNPP congratulated Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha for his foresight, diligence, uncommon commitment to common good and patriotism in bidding good-bye to APGA, by joining the progressive train of All Progressives Congress.”

Okechukwu said that with Okorocha’s exit from APGA to APC and the role he played to midwife a seamless APC primary election in Anambra, APGA’s end is near in the state.

According to the statement, Okorocha’s exit from APGA and entry into the APC is a clarion call for Ndigbo and indeed Nigerians to join the progressive train, where hard work, innovation and competition more than patronage, prevail.

APGA ‘ll be fair, says scribe

SECRETARY of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Anambra State Barrister Emeka Meze, has dismissed fears in some quarters that today’s governorship primary would be a coronation exercise for any of the contestants, saying that the party would provide a level playing ground for all aspirants.

Meze, in an exclusive chat with Vanguard said six aspirants will be participating in the exercise scheduled to hold at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka. He further dismissed fears that the crisis holding the party down before now, might play out today.

His words: “We are ready for our primaries tomorrow (today). And we are going to witness the most transparent promaries in history. We have about six aspirants who will be participating. And all of them will be given a level playing ground. “The APGA crisis is a media creation. APGA is not a party to any suit in the court so we have no crises.”