2015: Anambra PDP charges candidates to brace up for victory

Barely 24 hours after the Court of Appeal, Abuja delivered a judgment which tenta­tively settled the issue of the Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP) candidates in Anambra, leaders of the party in the state have charged the flag bearers to brace up for victory during the elections which have been postponed to March 28 and April 11, 2015.

At a meeting organized at the weekend in Awka by the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization, Anambra chapter at the instance of the Minister of Aviation and leader of the party in the state, Chief Osita Chidoka, the leaders who included the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh; the National Coordinator of Transfor­mation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah and the state Coordinator of the campaign organisation, Chief Okey Ezenwa, asked the candidates not to leave any stone unturned in the quest for victory for the party.

In an opening remark, Chief Ezenwa noted that his committee would not hesitate in assisting candidates campaign while it carries out its national assignment of ensuring that the presidential candidate, President Good­luck Jonathan, was given over 98 per cent of the votes in Anambra.

Addressing the candidates, Chief Chidoka said with the latest development in the party, referring to the Court of Appeal judgment, it has become a big challenge for the candidates to work hard for the victory.

He said: “You are aware that the Court of Appeal has taken a decision on who are the candidates of PDP in Anambra State, so, we don’t have any confusion about the candidates in PDP and those of you who are sitting here are PDP candidates and there is the need for all to come together.”

In a chat with newsmen after the closed-door meet­ing, the minister said, “what we have done today is to bring the PDP machinery into active duty, Anambra is predominantly PDP state and we are working hard together in making sure that all our candidates and all our stakeholders in the party come together to ansure victory. Victory for us is not only that PDP candidates win in all the elections in Anambra, but getting out all our support­ers and voters to come and vote, victory for us is to make sure they get their Permanent Voters Cards, victory for us is to make sure not only that the President wins but he wins with an overwhelming majority in Anambra State.”

Commending the Ezenwa-led presidential committee for their hard work, Chidoka said with what the com­mittee had done so far, he was sure that Jonathan would get 99 per cent votes in the state. He charged the Senate, House of Representatives and state Assembly candidates to work hard for victory.

“We have to work ward to ward and communities to communities to ensure that our people get their Perma­nent Voters Cards and that those voting, should vote PDP.”

The Igbo, he said, were supporting the re-election of President Jonathan because they were Republicans who cherish their fundamental freedom and the human rights that would create the enabling environment for their entrepreneurial ability to thrive and prosper.

Chief Metuh told newsmen that as far as the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP was concerned, the list of party candidates for Anambra State had been submitted to INEC long ago “and we stand by that list.”

Also addressing Anambra Central senatorial district royal fathers at the palace of the traditional ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, the minister urged them to ensure that peaceful elections are conducted in their various communities.

He urged the royal fathers to go to their various do­mains and educate all their subjects on the need to collect their voter cards and ensure that peace reigns in their communities, during and after the elections.

Anambra people, he maintained, do not support vio­lence and that he was hopeful that Ndigbo would remain law-abiding and ensure peaceful elections, despite what had been happening in other parts of the country.

Responding on behalf of the monarchs, the traditional ruler of Abacha, Igwe Godwin Mbakwe, assured the minister of the seriousness to which they have been taken the issue and urged the government to approach them on any responsibility that would guarantee peaceful election.

Geoffrey Anyanwu report from the Sun