Anambra North snubs Senator Oduah, says area not going to APC

By CHUKWUJEKWU ILOZUE, Awka

Leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra North senatorial district at the weekend pledged support for the party’s governorship candidate, Valentine Ozigbo, saying the area is not catchment for All Progressives Congress (APC).

The leaders met on the wings of defection of the Senator representing the area Mrs. Stella Oduah.

The member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency Hon Chukwuka Chuchu Onyema, had convened the stakeholders’ meeting “to enable the party leaders to brainstorm how to ensure victory for Ozigbo in the forthcoming guber election”.

The leaders in their resolution said among other things: “We need to correct the impression that Anambra North senatorial zone, and Ogbaru LGA in particular, is now a catchment of the APC. It is not.

“Despite the exit of some leaders, our dear party remains intact. Nobody in our party left with them.

“As we all know, no other party will favour or has favoured us more than PDP.

“APGA has failed the people of Anambra, and no well-meaning Anambra person will support APC”.

Hon. Onyema, however, alleyed fears that the ruling party at the center planned to hijack the election through violence saying: “I also want to allay the fear in many people that a particular political party wants to hijack the governorship election. It is not possible”.

“Nobody can rig the election at the polling units, and we will not allow the imposition of a governor on Anambra.

“It is the electorate that has the power to choose their governor, not the cabal. I have invested so much in this party because I believe it is my home. So, who will I leave my home for,” he queried.

One after the other, the stakeholders and PDP leaders took turns to drum their support for Ozigbo and strategise for his victory.

Former member who represented the area in the State House of Assembly, Hon Iduu Emeka, charged PDP supporters in the senatorial zone to prove a point with the November 6 election.

Iduu said: “We are a PDP family, and we will remain in PDP and work for PDP. Nobody can sell us or use us in institutionalising a Fulani agenda in Anambra”.

Several other high-ranking PDP members from the zone including three members of serving and former members of the House of Assembly – Hon Douglas Egbuna (Onitsha South), Hon Somto Udeze (Ogbaru II) and Hon Noble Igwe (Ogbaru I) attended the meeting.

Others were Comrade Okey Asolo, the Deputy Chairman of the PDP in Anambra State; Hon Francis Udoba, the Vice-Chairman (Anambra North); Comrade Ogom Izukanne, the Youth Leader of the party in Anambra State; and Chief Ejike Oguebego, a former State Chairman of the PDP, among others. (Sunday Independent)