Anambra Guber: Court vacates order on PDP to recognize Uba

…As candidates prepare to sell their tickets…
THE Federal High Court, Port Harcourt has vacated its order compelling the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to recognize Senator Andy Uba as the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming elections in Anambra State.

Justice H. A. Nganjiwa vacated the order earlier given on August 27 following parallel primaries conducted by the Ken Emeakayi led mainstream PDP and a faction of the party led by Chief Ejike Oguebego.

The fresh order frees the way for Comrade Tony Nwoye who emerged the candidate in the primaries conducted by the Emeakayi led PDP which was supervised by the national secretariat of the party to be adopted as the recognized candidate by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Justice Nganjiwa had upon a motion filed by Oguebego on behalf of himself and others in his faction ordered the PDP and INEC to recognize the winner of the primaries conducted by the Oguebego faction as the genuine candidate of the party. That primary was won by Senator Uba.

The order was upon an originating summon filed by the Oguebego-led faction of the party. The court also barred the PDP and INEC from recognizing whosoever emerged in the primaries conducted by the Emeakayi led faction pending the determination of a motion to set aside the order.

Last wednesday, following arguments presented by counsel to the defendants, the court set aside its earlier order freeing the INEC to recognize the outcome of the primaries conducted by the Emeakayi led mainstream of the PDP.

Candidates prepare to sell their tickets
THERE are indications that some of the candidates who picked their parties’ tickets for the November 16 governorship election are actually not planning to participate in the race.

In fact, some of them may, before the election proper, announce their support for other candidates who have been bankrolling their activities in their political parties.

Soludo, Ogene, Odenigbo, Uzoh, Mrs. Ekwunife , Okonkwo, Ndubuisi and Ifeanyi Uba

One of the candidates, who secured his party’s nomination last week, said yesterday in Awka that he is negotiating with a serious contender in the November 16 election for the purpose of becoming his running mate.

His intention, he said, has been made known to the hierarchy of the political party, adding that the issue is being considered at top levels of the two political parties.

The candidate said: “My party is not the only one in this kind of arrangement. Many of the political parties that have nominated candidates may go into an arrangement with other candidates and we will direct our supporters to vote for those candidates.”

PDP crisis: The way forward, by Uchem Obi
A CHIEFTAIN of the PDP, Chief Uchem Obi has said that the only way to resolve the crisis in the state branch of the party is by appeasing the former governor of the state, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, who governed the state between 1999 and 2003 for alleged wrongs done to him.

Except for Dr. Andy Uba who ruled the state for 17 days before the court removed him in 2007, Mbadinuju was the last PDP governor in the state despite the party’s popularity in Anambra State.

Obi said: “PDP lost Anambra to APGA in 2003 and again in 2010 and with the present crisis, we are worried that the party may lose again in November and such loss may be counter-productive to President Goodluck Jonathan’s ambition in 2015.

“Despite the many irregularities of PDP, it is still the only party with some national coloration and Anambra State would be better off in a national party than in a tribal party, with presence in only a small region of the country.

This is why we are worried about the lingering crisis in Anambra PDP because if it remains unresolved, the tragedy of 2010 may repeat in the state.”

Uchendu gets NNPP flag
THE New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, yesterday presented its certificate of return to the winner of its governorship ticket, Prince Leonard Uchendu for the November 16 governorship election in the state.

Speaking at the ceremony, the party’s National Secretary, Major Gilbert Agbo proclaimed the party’s governorship primaries as credible and therefore the presentation of the flag to Uchendu.

Agbo said, “Today, our great party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is carrying out a historic, memorable and epoch-making event as the party’s leadership presents its Certificate of Return to the Winner of our Anambra State Governorship election primary, our distinguished flag bearer and next Governor of Anambra State, Prince Leonard Uchendu.

“Our great party is ready for the Anambra Governorship election. NNPP is a party to beat. The good people of Anambra State desire and deserve a change in government. Together we shall win the 16th November gubernatorial election.

“As a mass movement, NNPP has the best people-orientated manifesto in Nigeria. The party’s blueprint for the transformation, development and advancement of Anambra State will be unveiled soon

“NNPP commends INEC for liberalizing the political space by registering new political parties. We urge politicians to imbibe issue-based politics and eschew do-or-die politics that has impeded our democratic process.

“We enjoin INEC to provide a level playing field for all political parties and sanction any political party or politician that violates the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

He urged the Anambra electorate to resist any form of electoral malpractice and ensure that their votes count as they go to the polling stations to cast their votes on November 16, 2013.

USA-APC backs Ngige
THE New York chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC has thrown its weight behind the nomination of Senator Chris Ngige as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming election.

Speaking through their spokesperson, Mr. Okey Ukekwe, the chapter affirmed that returning Ngige to the Government House would be a way of completing the projects he initiated before his exit from power in 2006.

The American chapter as such cautioned Anambra voters to be wary of moneybags and their acolytes as they urged the electorate to put primary consideration to development above all other matters.

“It is a historic victory for Senator Ngige has a blueprint which opened the infrastructural development of rural communes in Anambra State and given another opportunity he will advance the development of the state to the next level,” the American chapter of the party asserted.

“Our study shows how Ngige implemented only 20% of his blueprint, does not share money and needs this opportunity to take Anambra to the higher level”.

On the issue of money bags who might hijack the process, the chapter said,“we need to plead with our people to beware of those candidates who will distribute money today and forget tomorrow, for tomorrow belongs to future generations”