Confusion pervades the return of Crown Prince Ken Emeakayi unopposed
in the State Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held at Emmaus
House, Awka, Saturday as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Anambra state
Chairman against the stand of stakeholders.
The victory of
the immediate past Chairman of the Anambra State PDP, Emeakayi with a total of
958 votes, was greeted with uneasiness following the non-attendance to the
State Congress by majority of the statutory delegates. Announcing the result at
the State Congress of the party, held at the Emmaus House field, Awka, the
State capital, the Returning Officer, Mr. Ike Abonyi stated that, the Emeakayi
was returned unopposed as he was the sole candidate for the post, but he has to
go through a voting process as provided in the party’s constitution..
It was gathered
that delegate voted for one Okoli for the post of the State Chairman, but was
nullified by the Congress Committee due to the fact that he did not formally
seek for the office.
Accreditation of
968 delegates from the 21 local government areas started by 1.30pm while voting
for the 26 positions was concluded at 6.54 pm.
The Returning
Officer who announced Emeakayi winner as 7 .05 said 9 votes were voided.
Apart from
Emeakayi, other contestants who won their seats are: Mr. Nzube James Etoniru –
Secretary(Idemili South), Mr. Emeka Nzekwe – Publicity Secretary (Anambra
East), Prince Eddy Okosi (Youth Leader (Onitsha North), Wilson Anakwe -
Treasurer ((Awka South), Sir-Ben Nwosu - Organizing Secretary (Nnewi North),
Afam Akonnaya – Legal Adviser (Njikoka).
As at the time of
going to the press, there is still anxiety as to who would emerge winner for
the post of the Financial Secretary contested by Mr. Ekedozie and Egwuoyibo
Okoye zoned to Nnewi South LGA as well as the post of Women Leader vied by Mrs
Grace Okeke and Ego Afuegbu, both from Dunukofia LGA.
The State
Congress monitored by Godfrey Nsofor from INEC's Elections and Party Monitoring
unit was organized to elect State Executives for the party after the national
leadership sacked all the factions contending for leadership in the Stare,
including the Emeakayi and Ejike Oguenego factions.
According to
sources, the choice of Emeakayi is needed to provide a strong opposition to the
quest of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to return governor Willie
Obiano to power in 2018.
In the stead, the National Working Committee
of the PDP set up a Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the party
preparatory to the 2015 general elections.
It is being
feared that non-participation of the majority of the delegates, will likely
return to party to the trenches, fueling speculation of a return to the era of
factionalization.
According to the
guidelines, the delegates to the State Congress includes the three-man ad-hoc
delegates from the ward as well as statutory delegates made up of the former
Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; Senator Onyeabo Obi,member PDP Board of
Trustees; Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary; Iyom Josephine Anenih,
member of BOT; serving Senators, Andy Uba, Uche Ekwunife and Stella Oduah.
Also among the
delegates were House of Representatives members of PDP, namely, Chukwuka
Onyema, Linda Ikpeazu, Obinna Chidoka, Anayo Nnebe, Eucharia Azodo,
Sopuluchukwu Onwuka, and Emeka Anohu as well as three PDP members of the State
House of Assembly.
