Anambra governorship election tears PDP apart

THERE was a sharp disagreement in the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday over the  November 16 governorship election  in Anambra State  as the party’s candidate, Tony Nwoye, openly  flayed the  national headquarters and state chapter of the party  for  praising the conduct of the poll.

The National Publicity Secretary  of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh,  had on Sunday described the election as ‘free and fair’ even when Nwoye joined his All Progressives Congress  and Labour Party  counterparts, Chris Ngige and Ifeanyi Ubah,  respectively in calling for its cancellation.

On Wednesday in Awka, the  Chairman of the state  chapter, Mr. Ken Emeakayi, did the same as Metuh by  describing the poll as  credible.

Emeakayi  had told a news  conference that   the  PDP would participate in the supplementary election, which Nwoye is against.

Emeakayi had told the journalists that  the decision to commend and participate in the supplementary election was taken at an emergency meeting of the state working committee of the party.

He said, “We state categorically and unequivocally that the  PDP will participate in the supplementary election in the contentious areas of the state as announced by INEC(Independent National Electoral Commission), and we charge our members to continue to remain calm and focused.”

He accused the  APC of trying to cause disaffection within the PDP by using some members to make statements that were inimical to the position of the PDP on    the election.

But a  miffed Nwoye, through his campaign organisation,  said he was surprised  “that certain highly placed officers of the party”  could  go to the press to make comments  about the election without consulting  him.

 Nwoye, through his   campaign organisation,   dissociated  himself  from the position of the state working committee of the PDP.

At a separate  news conference also on Wednesday,    the Director-General of the   organisation, Mr. Osita Ezenwa,  said, “The election has been poorly conducted and what remains is for INEC to conduct a fresh election. If we win, fine. If we don’t, we will congratulate the winner.”

Ezenwa, in company with Ken Arinze and Clems Ezika, added, “I don’t see why someone should be in a hurry to congratulate INEC or any other person on an election that has not been concluded.”

The organisation later released a statement in which it  condemned  Metuh  for commending the  election without consulting it.

The statement from its    ICT and Communication Unit  was signed by Ikeagwuonwu Chinedu,  Okwu Okwu, Ikechukwu Onyia and Orjika Chidi.

The statement reads in part  , “It is a common knowledge that the Anambra State  governorship election that held across the state on   November 16, 2013, was  marred by irregularities.

“There has been widespread condemnation of the exercise by members of the civil society groups, Anambrarians,  the Conference of Nigerian Political parties and election observers and monitors.

“Even Prof.  Jega went on air to apologise to Anambrarians on the poor conduct of the election.

“In spite of these flaws and more witnessed during the exercise,   Metuh  went on air to announce that the election  was free and fair

“In a show of shame, Metuh made his statement giving credibility to an election in which his candidate and all his family members,  including some of his cousins were disenfranchised and prevented from voting.”

It wondered why the PDP spokesperson did not contact Nwoye before making  his “shameful statement.”

The organisation also accused him of   sabotaging the PDP  during the election.

PUNCH