The crisis rocking the Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has negatively rubbed on the governorship primary of the party as two candidates emerged as the flagbearer of the party in the upcoming 2021 guber poll in the Southeast state.
On Saturday, two parallel primary elections were held by PDP factions in Awka, Anambra State capital as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Charles Soludo, who recently clinched the governorship ticket of his party wait patiently to know his main challenger.
Chief Chukwudi Umeaba-led faction held its primary election at the Paul University Complex, Akwa while Mr Ndubuisi Nwobu-led faction held its primary at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Center, Awka, Anambra State.
Chief Ugochukwu Uba emerged as the candidate of the Umeaba-led faction, pulling a total of 275 votes from the total 665 votes cast.
The Chairman of the Electoral Panel, Chief Obidi Ebede, declared Uba as the winner of the primary election, defeating Chief Godwin Ezeemo who polled 114 votes to emerge second in the contest and Sen. Uche Ekwunife who polled 56 votes to emerge third.
Also, the immediate past President and Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Transcorp Plc, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, emerged as the winner of the Nwobu-led faction which held on Saturday.
Ozigbo polled a total of 62 votes to defeat Dr Obiora Okonkwo, who came second with 58 votes and Senator Uche Ekwunife who came third with 44 votes.
The results was announced by the faction’s Chairman of Electoral Panel who is also the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu.
The Anambra chapter of PDP has been witnessing leadership tussle in the past few weeks.
In recent terms, there seems to have been a synergy among the stalwarts in the party, however prior to the build-up to the 2021 gubernatorial election, everything seems to have fallen apart.
On June 9, a Federal High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had sacked Nwobu as the chairman of the party, among other state and local government executives of the PDP in Anambra State.
Justice O.A. Adeniyi who delivered the judgement sacked the party excos on the grounds that the Congress which held on November 28, 2017 and produced the affected party excos was not in line with the PDP’S constitution.
Justice Adeniyi also declared Umeaba as the acting chairman of the party pending when a lawful Congress will be conducted and produce duly elected candidates.
If what went down on Saturday in Akwa, Anambra state capital is anything to go by, the PDP in the state is likely to get the same results they have been getting since leaving power in the state in 2006.
