Loosing Anambra PDP to Opposition Again By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu

Confusion and anarchy could best describe the Anambra State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). 

 The work you are reading was first published Nov 22, 2014.

The ward congresses held penultimate weekend brought out the mess in the party as three substantive factions emerged. The screening of Aspirants still was just a fulfillment of all riotousness. 
PDP nominated screening committee and screening appeal panel members for National assembly primaries released by its National organizing secretary, Abubaker Mustapha were in Anambra but their activities were unknown to many.
The panels and appeals were sequel to,’’Part (25) (i) of the Electoral Guidelines for 2014 Primary Elections of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stipulates that there shall be, for the purposes of the National Assembly Party primaries for each State, a Screening Committee of five (5) members whose duty shall, among other things, include the screening of aspirants from Wednesday, November 19 -Thursday, November 20, 2014, and hearing of Screening Appeals of Friday, November 21, 2014.
The Screening Committee and Screening Appeals Panel for the purposes of Screening Aspirants for National Assembly Elections for Anambra was led by Hon. Bayo Ojo  as Chairman while  Nuhu Bobbo Gurin ,Pastor Oke Anolue , Olaifa B. Oludotun  were members while Hon. Ukachi Okey was Member/Secretary.
The Screening Appeal Panel was led by Chief Idada Iboro as Chairman and  Hon. Sani Moh. Aminu  as member while Hon. Elias Oche  was Member/Secretary.
Sources who witnessed the exercise could not confirm if anybody was disqualified or not after the appeal but it was rancor free and all the Aspirants were attended to irrespective of their factions with big names like Princess Stella Oduah, Iyom Uche Ekwunife and Senator Andy Uba as well as Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe to mention  but a few. 
They started the screening at Finotel hotel at Agu Awka but later changed venue to Donriez hotel at Udoka according to members of the PDP who could not even confirm what transpired during the screening. 
Pandola Okwuosa, a former scribe of the party confirmed the screening and Appeal held but could not say what transpired as his principal was cleared. 
But the preceding matters at the congress where the members turnout was impressive but the factions are as confusing as ever.  The ward congress was held under the factional chairmanship of Mr. Ejike Oguebego while the congress was silent in the camp of Mr. Ken Emeakayi even as a third faction led by Senator Ibrahim Mantu later came on the mandated f the National Working Committee of the party to sack the two other factions Ejike Oguebego recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission and Ken Emeakayi recognized by stakeholders.
If Mantu sacks the two factions he would now inaugurate a caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the party in the state pending a state congress. That too failed and crashed before Mantu. 
Mantu was allegedly drafted by a college of factions led by oil mogul Prince Arthur Eze and the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisah Metuh, for a fresh congress.
But Mantu’s mandate collapsed in two hotels in Awka penultimate Saturday and Sunday, which forced Mantu and his appeal panel to relocate to Asaba, the Delta State capital.
At Asaba Mantu was besieged again but he simply although allegedly handed over the delegates’ forms to Princess Stella Oduah for Anambra North senatorial zone, Senator Andy Uba for Anambra South Senatorial zone and Uche Ekwunife for Anambra central senatorial zone, thus shutting the doors for other contenders in their zones. He now asked them to discuss with the best candidates for House of Representatives in each of the zones. 
This gave credence to the leadership of  Ejike Oguebego who had been carrying out the dictates of the Uba dynasty. 
The Oguebego exercise, conducted in 326 wards in the 21 local governments, was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as they elected three man adhoc delegates to the state congress.
National Working Committee team led by Mantu would have had their way but for total rejection of their move by the Anambra PDP stakeholders who insisted that status quo must remain under the Emeakayi leadership. 
The stakeholders had passed a vote of confidence on the Emeakayi leadership of the party in the state and resolved to work together and conquer the opposition in the 2015 general elections.
Oguebego said this about  Emeakayi group and other factions,’’ They are not members of the Peoples Democratic Party. Their names are not in PDP register even in their wards. The said Emeakayi is not a member of the PDP.
And on opposition APGA , he said,’’ What is power of incumbency? APGA was there and the party could not win any senatorial seat in the last election. At the Federal House of Representatives and state Assembly they found it difficult to win all the seats as incumbents. So now that they are in big crisis what do you expect to happen in 2014? The party has to take care of its internal problems first before dreaming of wining 2014 governorship election.
Although the screening and appeals had no issues , the state congress may tear off the remaining of PDP’s peace in Anambra state, if something urgent is not done.  The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressives Congress are watching to take advantage of the brewing crisis in PDP to enlarge their coast.

Odogwu is a Journalist, Editor, Social commentator and Publisher. He is also a Blogger based in Anambra state @ www.odogwublog.com    He can be reached on 08060750240 E-mail [email protected]