In the last couple of months and with the exception of the recent deportation saga, whenever the name Anambra State is mentioned, it has always been in connection with politics and elections and it is no different today as the Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced that it will today (Friday), unveil the aspirants who have bought and returned their nomination forms for the November 16, governorship election in the state.
The state party chairman, Mr. Ken Emeakayi, told journalists Thursday, after the different committees set up by the national office of the party screened the chairmanship and councillorship aspirants for the October 5, local government elections in the state, that the presentation would precede the August 12, ward congress for election of delegates for the August 24, primaries of the party in the state to nominate the party’s candidate for the November 16, governorship election.
All the party’s aspirants, he said, were aware and had agreed that the primaries would be won and lost on the field, thereby ruling out the possibility of a consensus candidate.
Towards having a hitch-free primaries on August 24, Emeakayi said the party hierarchy had been able to impress it on the aspirants that there would be no manipulation of the process, and in turn, had extracted a commitment from them that once the process was free and transparent, they would abide by the outcome.
He said 15 of the aspirants as at Wednesday had bought and returned their nomination forms and that there would neither be any sacred, anointed nor imposed candidate, which he noted, had in the past robbed the chapter victory at the poll owing to protest votes.
Meanwhile, the party’s frontline contender for the November 16 election, Senator Andy Uba, has reiterated that he was poised to win the election again.
Uba, who paid a Sallah homage to President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday, insisted that he won the election in 2007 but was only told to wait by the court.
He said he would still carry the day even after the elections.
“I have won it before in 2007 and I have done senate twice and won. I believe I am the frontrunner and I believe I will win,” Uba predicted.
He added: “After the primaries, we will all agree and sign the form that says that whoever emerges from the primaries, we will support, we don’t have any other way than to support PDP.”
He explained that: “PDP did not lose the governorship seat in the state in 2007, but the court only told PDP to wait until the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) finishes. In 2010, we lost to APGA because we did not put our house in order but this time, we are all together and am sure definitely we would win the state.”
He urged Nigerians to “live as one… because we relate very well with the Muslims in Anambra State. So, I wish Nigerians a peaceful holiday and we would continue to remain this way. Nigeria is a country that cannot be divided by religion.”