As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to wallow in disarray amidst alignment and realignment of aspirants and parties jostling for votes in the upcoming Anambra gubernatorial election, OKEY CHRIS analyses the conundrum
There is no doubt that the presence of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seemed to be diminishing in Anambra State political terrain whose gubernatorial poll is billed to hold on November 18th 2017.
Anambra State chapter of PDP, it would be recalled, has been enmeshed in internal strife and squabble for about 16 years, an anomaly which has led the party into having three factions, aside loosing governorship seat for three consecutive times, and still continuing.
The state PDP factional Chairmen are Prince Ken Emeakayi, Hon. Emeka Small Nzekwe and Chief Ejike Oguebego. Perhaps adding salt to the political injury is the recent emergency of two factional National Chairman of the party, Alh. Ahmed Markafi and Ali Modu Sheriff.
While APGA already has an automatic candidate in the incumbent, Obiano, who is Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, for whom the party has foreclosed the same intention from any other of its members, this year’s election would witness the most aspirants on the platform of the APC and the PDP, as a house divided against itself, has continued to fade away from voters’ consciousness.
Discerning observers would have noticed another remarkable difference that the election would witness which is that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which had always been a vibrant opposition party in the state would not be so much of a force to reckon with, as most of its members have decamped to APC as intra party crisis has left the PDP in disarray.
But a chieftain of PDP in Anambra, recently expressed optimism of the party bouncing back to reckoning and wrest power with APGA in the governorship election.
PDP Organising Secretary in the state, Prince Samben Nwosu, during an inaugural meeting of the party’s executive council of Nnewi North Local Government Area, disclosed this.
He noted that the PDP, in a move to actualise the dream of taking over Anambra in the next election has reconciled factions in the party to become a united big family under one strong indivisible umbrella. Nwosu explained that Anambra is primarily a PDP state, adding that APGA in power merely capitalised on crisis and fractionalisation which rocked the PDP.
Hear him: “I am happy to inform you that every shade of interest has been taken care of in the newly constituted and inaugurated executive council which has automatically taken care of issues of our party splitting into many factions, as a result of that, many of our members who are on sabbatical in other political parties have started discussing with us to facilitate their return.”
Nwosu said another factor that would help the party regain power in Anambra State was what he called colossal failure of the incumbent the APGA government to address the issue of power, roads and infrastructure especially in the industrial town of Nnewi, the headquarters of Anambra South senatorial zone.
However, when Sheriff, some months after winning a court case against Markafi- led Caretaker committee of PDP, visited Enugu State, as part of his reconciliation move, only the faction shepherd by Ejike Oguebego as Chairman and Chris Uba as leader represented Anambra State.
The former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, Senator Stella Odua, Nicholas Ukachukwu, Senator Annie Okonkwo, all the five house of representative members in Anambra under the platform of PDP, and other prominent PDP stalwarts boycotted the gathering.
Other absentees at the Sheriff Enugu visit were Chief Osita Chidoka, former Minister of Aviation and FRSC, Zeribe Ezeanuna, Oseloka Obaze, former SSG of the state, and others whose body language show that they are in the race for Anambra 2017 poll.
Even observers, who have come across their thousands of campaign posters, fliers and banners, including political rallies, may find it difficult to identify whose leadership the contestants belonged to.
Also observed from the campaign posters, fliers and banners of these contestants is that none is using PDP logo at present although the presence of Emeakayi and his executive members at their various campaign meetings and rallies indicate that they belonged to the line-up.
Quite recently, an all- important peace meeting of PDP stakeholders, mainly, the parallel leadership was initiated by none other than the immediate past President GoodLuck Jonathan, both Markafi and Sheriff factions were present, but Sheriff walked out on the former president, an action observers believe was stage managed and worsened the rift in the party. The question is with the party still in disarray and peace elusive, can PDP make a noticeable impact in the race?
