There is uneasy calm in the camp of Governorship aspirants of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), from Anambra South Senatorial, following the plans by the party will not zone it’s 2021 governorship ticket in Anambra State.
Anaedoonline.com has reliably gathered that political tension is building across the camp of the Member representing Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, Hon. Engr. Chris Azubogu, Umuchu-born Billionaire Medical Doctor, Dr. Godwin Maduka, Former Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Ifedi Okwenna and Mr. Valentine Ozigbo.
Hon. Engr. Chris Azubogu
These candidates who were already strategizing and scheming on how to outwit each other before the party’s primary is scheduled were left downcast after the party zonal leadership led by Chief Austin Umahi declared that the party will not zone its 2021 governorship ticket in the state, urging all aspirants from all senatorial zones in the state to contest.
According to Chief Umahi, the party remains firm and resolute in their ultimate interest to win the Anambra State Gubernatorial election 2021 with the best candidate provided he or she is an Anambarian. He maintained that the party’s candidate in the election could come from any part of the state, noting that PDP cannot be blackmailed into adopting APGA or APC zoning arrangement in Anambra state.
This resolution reached at Enugu by the PDP southeast zonal committee headed by Deacon Austin Umahi, the party’s national vice chairman southeast, has unsettled candidates coming from Anambra South Senatorial Zone.
Dr. Ifedi Okwenna
Reports also have it that the former Governor of Anambra State and PDP’s 2019 Vice Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has also insisted that he is against zoning.
Speaking to Anaedoonline.com, a stalwart of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who pleaded anonymity, said that he is not surprised by the development.
Speaking he said, “I am not surprised by what is happening in our party, I saw the signs before the 2019 elections, our party has never had any zoning arrangement in Anambra State, even in the last Governorship election, Oseloka Obaze emerged as the candidate of PDP, not because of zoning, but for the reason that he was Peter Obi preferred choice, after he emerged, how many PDP stakeholders supported him? He was left to campaign alone”
Dr. Godwin Maduka
“Personally for me, I don’t support zoning, the contest should be thrown open, the capacity and competence of the aspirant should determine whether he emerges as a candidate or not”
Speaking also, another member of PDP, who also pleaded anonymity said that while he is not satisfied with the decision of the zonal leadership of the party, he is putting the blame on the aspirants coming from South.
“Let’s tell ourselves the truth, I am from Anambra South, but as it stands, if we allow everybody to go the field, none of these candidates from Anambra South will win the party’s ticket, Ozigbo, Ifedi and Maduka are all newcomers, they are not in the grassroots, even for Chris Azubogu, it will be difficult for him, do they have the capacity to win people like Uche Ekwunife in the field ? They will be floored”
“I expected them to have started championing this issue of zoning since last year, but they didn’t, they refuse to understand that if zoning is removed, their chances of emerging as PDP candidate, will be very slim”
“I want our party ticket to come to the south, but then, aspirants from the south should get to work, none of them has emerged as a candidate, but their supporters are busy de-marketing other parties and their aspirants, that is too early”
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