Anambra Central: Ex-Gov Obi, Chidoka gun for PDP ticket

Ahead of the forthcoming rerun election into the seat of Anambra Central Senatorial District two heavy weight politicians, former Governor Peter Obi and former Min¬ister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka have joined the race for the ticket of People Democratic Party (PDP) bringing the number of politicians jostling for the PDP ticket to five.
But in another development, former Governor Obi told The AUTHORITY that he has not yet picked any senatorial form to run for the vacant senatorial position in Anambra Central.
The two eminent Anambra sons, according The AUTHORITY checks, are already in fierce tussle for the ticket with intensive lobbying of party bigwigs to support their aspirations ahead of the primary election of the party.
Before the entrance of Obi and Chidoka, three chieftains of the party were battling for the ticket. They are Senator Annie Okonkwo, Chief Obiora Okonkwo and Sylvester Okonk¬wo.
While Obiora and Sylvester are into serious campaign already with their posters gracing all parts of the senatorial district, Annie is said to be waiting for the verdict of the Supreme Court following the case he filed in 2015 asking the Court to declare him as the flag bearer of the party for the election.
The AUTHORITY gathered from impeccable sources that Obi and Chi¬doka were lured into the race by two different camps in the opposition par¬ty for fear of Victor Umeh, the can¬didate of All Progressive Grand Al¬liance, APGA and Uche Ekwunife who is a strong contender for the tick¬et of All Progressive Congress, APC. Umeh has also started his campaign ahead of the election.
The AUTHORITY further gath¬ered that, Obi and Chidoka’s battle for the ticket is already dominating the PDP quarters as members of the par¬ty await the primary election.
A chieftain of the party who did not want his name in print because he was not authorised to speak for the party told The AUTHORITY that the party is more comfortable with Obi or Chidoka than others because they command more popularity as the im¬mediate past governor and immedi¬ate past aviation minister/road safe¬ty boss, respectively.
He said, “With due respect, all the aspirants are good enough for the job, but in election, popularity matters a lot and that is why some influential stakeholders have courted the for¬mer governor and the former min¬ister into the race.
Meanwhile, Obi who spoke through his special adviser on me¬dia, Mr. Valentine Obienyem clarified his current position.
His words: “The news that his Ex¬cellency, Mr. Peter Obi has picked the form to contest the Anambra Cen¬tral Senatorial election, is not true. He has consistently maintained his confidence in, and support for, one of the candidates for the candidate’s past performance through which the future is measured.
“Though Obi has consistently maintained that he will not seek elec¬tion in future, but as one who places the people foremost in his political considerations, such decisions are not the immutable laws of Persia. In any event, when the occasion arises, he will speak in the first person.
“Meanwhile, the outpouring of emotions and goodwill as Nigeri¬ans have continued to demonstrate towards him, which further testify that he remains the central luminary in the gathering of political stars due largely to his stellar performances in public office, are appreciated.”
Meanwhile, a group known as Anambra Non-Indigenes Forum have began to mobilise their mem¬bers to fully participate in the Anam¬bra Central rerun election.