Andy Uba Emerges PDP Guber Candidate As Ukachukwu, Noye Set To Emerge As Parallel Candidate.

Senator representing Anambra South senatorial district, Senator Andy Uba today floored four aspirants to emerge Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state.

He polled 605 votes to defeat his closest rival, Senator Emma Anosike, who polled 110 votes. The others are Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe, Hon. Ugochukwu Okeke and Patrick Ugomba.

However, another parallel PDP governorship congress is ongoing in the same Awka, and is likely to produce either of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu or Comrade Tony Nwoye as flag bearer Other aspirants that contested against Ukachukwu include Dr. Obinna Uzor, Mrs Josephine Anenih, Mike Okoye, and Prince Akachukwu Nwankwo. The others are Ms. Krama Agatha, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, Walter Okeke, and Charles Odinukwe.

Today’s parallel congresses is the culmination of a war of supremacy between the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Tukur-led national executive of PDP had recognised Prince Ken Emeakayi as chairman of its Anambra state chapter.

On the other hand, INEC has disowned Emeakayi, insisting that the only person it recognises as the state PDP chairman is Ejike Oguebego. Anambra PDP has a long history of throwing up parallel candidates for the same political office. However, this is the first time the party would have two claimants to the governorship ticket.

In 2003, the then Chief Audu Ogbeh-led NWC produced two lists of PDP candidates for seats into the Anambra and National Assemblies. At the time, names of persons endorsed by Ogbeh and national secretary Vincent Ogbulafor as PDP candidates for Anambra State, had actually earlier been sent to INEC by the now defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD).

INEC, which had recently nullified the position of some principal PDP officers, last week wrote remnant of the Tukur-led executive on its position on Anambra PDP.

In the letter dated August 11 and signed by U. F. Usman on behalf of its Secretary, INEC said it did not monitor the congress that produced Emeakayi as state PDP chairman. INEC in the letter, further told Tukur that it was not aware of any court judgement which put Emeakayi in place of Ogbuebego, stressing it was never party to the suit. “The Commission has resolved that it will not withdraw its letter of reference No INEC/EPM/PDP/24/1/53 of 26th July, 2013 by which the Commission recognized Ejike Ogbuebego as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State and shall be bound by the recent order of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt,” INEC declared.