Anambra Central: PDP to give Ekwunife, others equal opportunity in primary

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said, yesterday in Awka, Anambra State that the party would give equal opportunity to all the aspirants for the senatorial seat of Anambra Central during its scheduled primaries to select the party’s candidate for the rerun election.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu nullified the election of Mrs. Uche Ekwunife following appeal by the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and former National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh and ordered for a rerun within 90 days.
Addressing stakeholders of PDP at its state secretariat in Awka, the state Chairman, Prince Kenneth Emeakayi said, that the National Working Committee, NWC, of PDP had scheduled congresses to address the issue raised by the judgment of the Court of Appeal regarding the nomination of the party’s candidate for the election.
Emeakayi said: “Though Uche Ekwunife has the right of offer of first refusal which can only be rejected or ratified by the senatorial congress, this is without prejudice to the right of any other member of our great party from Anambra Central senatorial district to present himself or herself to contest and participate in the exercise, and allowing members of PDP in Anambra Central to exercise their franchise in line with the provisions of the PDP constitution, as amended.”
He said that for the avoidance of doubt, PDP remained the party to beat in the fresh election, insisting that despite what he described as the deliberate misrepresentation and misinterpretation of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, the party would deploy all constitutional instruments and legitimate means to reclaim the senatorial seat.