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Tag: Anambra

  • Two killed in renewed Anambra/Kogi clash

    •Battle over oil well persists

    Two persons were yesterday beheaded and four others injured in a renewed clash between Anambra and Kogi States over the ownership of Orient Petroleum Resources Plc.

    The incident happened at Eziagulu Otu in Anambra East, near the Orient Petroleum Resources Ltd office.

    The attack is coming barely 24 hours after the firm’s  management informed the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, of its new wells in Aguleri, which would increase its crude oil production to 3,000 barrels per day by September.

    The attackers were said to have come from Ibaji in Kogi State.

    The injured persons, according to a source, had been admitted at a private hospital in Onitsha.

    According to sources, the attackers, stormed farms, surprising many who ran into the river.

    As at press time, it could not be ascertained whether some people were missing.

    A distress message received by The Nation read: “Information reaching our town indicates that Kogi people are right now attacking Eziagulu Otu and Enugu Otu in several groups and are about to overrun the area and the oil field facilities there.”

    A community leader, who pleaded for anonymity, described it as a sad situation.

    Police Commissioner Mr. Hosea Karma confirmed the incident. He said his men and the Kogi State police command had stepped in to stop further clash.

    “The attack is unfortunate. We have moved to the area but the terrain is posing a great challenge as it is surrounded by water,” Karma said.

  • Anambra PDP: we don’t regret voting for Jonathan

    •Chieftains support Metuh, Ekweremadu

    The Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State has said it does not regret voting for former President Goodluck Jonathan in the last elections and would do so again, if given another chance.

    The party warned those fuelling crisis against Metuh and others to desist from such.

    A statement signed by Uche Ekwunife, Stella Oduah, Andy Uba, and other party chieftains said PDP would not allow anybody, group or political party drag its Igbo leaders into the mud.

    Vice Chairman Central Ken Enenmuo said it was wrong to accuse Metuh of masterminding rigging in Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi States. He described the allegations as false.

    The statement reads: “One of the sins of Chief Olisah Metuh, as enumerated by former workers at the PDP National Secretariat, was that he had been at Wadata Plaza in the last 16 years as a party officer.

    “We wish to remind the workers that Olisa Metuh is not, and was never appointed at the zonal or national level, rather, he was elected to serve in all the capacities he has served.

    “We are not unaware of the plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to employ every means to distract and to discredit Chief Olisa Metuh and Senator Ike Ekweremadu to deny the PDP a credible voice in its new opposition role.

    “We pass a vote of confidence on our leader, Chief Olisa Metuh, and urge him to ignore the antics of the APC and continue with his works, alongside other members of the National Working Committee”.

  • Agony as family of seven is buried in Anambra

    Agony as family of seven is buried in Anambra

    Azia community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State was yesterday, thrown into mourning, following the burial of a family of seven that died in a gas explosion in Ajegunle, Lagos State on July 20.

    Markets and shops were closed in respect to the family.

    The deceased were Charles Obidiegwu, 51, his wife Esther, five children – Isaac, Ebube, the sister in-law, Mary, Kate and his son.

    Death came calling when the gas cooker Esther was cooking with caught fire.

    The late Charles ran a medicine shop and was a member of the Chosen Charismatic Church in Lagos.

    Tears flowed like a river as sympathisers lamented the doom that befell the community.

    The deceased’s elder brother, Mr. Livinus Obidigwe lamented: “My younger brother’s wife was cooking at about 12pm when the gas exploded.

    “The explosion may have been caused by a leakage which they didn’t know about. None of them escaped because the kitchen was both the entry and exit point.

    “Before fire fighters arrived, the damage had been done; my younger brother had died and the others died in the hospital seven days later.

    Chimezie Obidiegwu, looking devastated, lacked words to express his feelings. He was hopeful that his late brother’s love, understanding, coupled with the fear of God, would see them through.

    In his sermon, the officiating priest, Rev. Fr. Jude Unigwe condoled the family and urged them not to question why it happened the way it did, as only God had the answer.

    He urged the people to live a good life as nobody knows when and how death would come.

    “It is a painful death and nobody deserves to die in that manner but nobody can question God; he knows the best. Nkwankwa village should use this death to unite and be their brother’s keeper.

    “God allows things like this to happen so that the living can learn and come to repentance,” Rev. Unigwe said.

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  • Photo : Accident scene in Anambra

    Photo : Accident scene in Anambra

    AN ACCIDENT SCENE AT ULI IN IHIALA NEAR AWKA IN ANAMBRA ON TUESDAY.
    AN ACCIDENT SCENE AT ULI IN IHIALA NEAR AWKA IN ANAMBRA ON TUESDAY.
  • Anambra PDP: How far can Emeakayi go?

    Anambra PDP: How far can Emeakayi go?

    Over the years, the influence of the super rich and the politically strong has been blamed for the incessant crisis and factionalisation in Anambra State’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Following the return of Prince Ken Emeakayi as the party’s state Chairman, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports on the challenges before him and how far he can go to reconcile the warring factions and reposition the party in the state 

    The future of Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been a source of concern both to members of the party and to other observers. This is because of the varying interests of powerful elements in the party, which have not only led to incessant clashes and factionalisation but also to lack of a generally acceptable leadership of the state chapter of the party.

    Even the recent election of the new State Executive Council (SEC), where Prince Ken Emeakayi and Mr. Joemartins Uzodike emerged as Chairman and Secretary respectively, is yet to assuage the fear over the future of the once ruling party in the South-East state. Some observers, who are still worried that it would take unexpected twists to conclusively resolve the ongoing crisis in the state chapter of the party, said Emeakayi, who is the immediate past chairman of the state chapter of the party, has been involved in the crisis over the years, having been the arrow head of one of the leading factions.

    Such critical observers of the politics of Anambra State are therefore wondering if his return as PDP state chairman, barely nine months after the party’s former State Executive Committee (SEC) was dissolved by the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP will bring the needed peace, unity and progress. According to them, “it should be clear to all that except something more concrete is done to really reconcile the powerful godfathers behind the factions; it would be difficult for Emeakayi to carry all along.

    Even the way he emerged the new chairman, according to an insider, who belonged to the other faction, is “obviously suspicious.”

    It would be recalled that Emeakayi was the sole candidate for the position of chairman in the election that led to his return. But the Returning Officer at the congress election, Mr. Ike Abonyi, said at the end of the voting that a total of 968 votes were cast, 10 votes were voided, while 958 votes were accepted as valid.

    So, evoking the power conferred on him by the PDP Constitution, Abonyi declared Emeakayi winner. Some of the stakeholders who witnessed the congress included, the members representing Aguata Federal Constituency, Hon. Eucharia Azodo, her Awka/South counterpart, Hon. Anayo Nebe, Idemili Sorth/South, Obinna Chidoka, Nnewi North/South-Ekwusigo, Hon. Chris Azubogu, and Dr. Alex Obiogbohu among others.

    Years of crisis:

    Crisis in Anambra PDP, which was primarily blamed for the party’s loss of political power in the state to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) over eight years ago, still manifest in the current factionalisation within the party. Although all the party chieftains agree that the party has since remained out of power in the state, primarily because of the internal crisis, each of the influential leaders of party has seemingly refused to cooperate with the other, leading to factionalisations. This problem was well pronounced in 2013 prior to the 2014 governorship election in the state when the party clearly split in two with the national leadership of the party recognizing one faction while the other was recognized by INEC. At the primaries, the two strong factions came up with different governorship candidates. The Ken Emeakayi-led faction, which was backed by the national executive, produced Tony Nwoye as its candidate while the Ejike Oguebego-led Executive, which was backed by INEC, produced Senator Andy Uba as its governorship candidate.

    At the commencement of the drama, Oguebego-led Executive had approached a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. At first, the court gave an exparte order restraining both INEC and PDP from dealing with the Ken Emeakayi faction until the main application is heard. Later, the trial Judge, Justice H.A Nganjiwa, ordered that the result of the Ejike Oguebego-led Executive, backed by INEC where Senator Andy Uba emerged winner, should be accepted pending the hearing and determination of the suit before the court.

    The confusion deepened when the national leadership of PDP formally declared that its candidate in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State was Comrade Tony Nwoye, who won the primary election conducted by the Emeakayi faction of the party in the state while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State maintained that it won’t recognise the Emeakayi-led faction of the state chapter of PDP.

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state then, Professor Chukwuemeka Onukogu, had explained in Awka why the commission did not monitor the primaries conducted by Oguebego faction, which produced Senator Uba as its candidate.

    He had said: “We have taken our position and as a person under authority, I am bounded by the decision of the commission. We, as a body are guided by the rule of the law. If the PDP does not follow the law guiding the electoral process, they may not present a candidate in Anambra election. They must follow, they have to follow and it’s incumbent on them to follow the electoral law. Once they do that we don’t have any problem with them.”

    The Anambra REC added: “The party said their candidate is Nwoye but I wasn’t there. I didn’t monitor it. We didn’t monitor the two primaries for obvious reasons. One, we don’t recognise the Emeakayi faction and I will have nothing to do with it until there is an order from the court of law against what we have. Secondly, for the other one, it should have been the national office of the PDP that should have invited us to attend, not the state.

    “The state branch invited us but going by the law guiding the political parties, it should have been the national office in Abuja that would invite us. So, we stayed clear. When my chairman tells me what to do, I will know but for now, we are dealing with the Oguebego faction. I have instructions to deal with that faction; we monitored their ward congresses substantially. We didn’t monitor the other one. We respect the law of the land and what my chairman tells me is what I’m going to do. Nothing more, nothing less.”

    By December of that year, unknown gunmen kidnapped Emeakayi. Early reports of his kidnap said he was on his way to Awka, the state capital from his village in Okija when his car was intercepted at Anyafulujiji Junction, Nri by his abductors.

    As would be expected, his abduction worsened the crisis and distrust within the state chapter of the party. He remained in the kidnappers’ den for two days until he regained his freedom.

    Narrating his ordeal in the hands of his abductors, Emeakayi alleged that his captors were instructed to assassinate him but that divine intervention saved his life.

    “On Sunday, the first day of December, 2013, I was on my way to Awka from Ihiala my local government when on reaching Anyasoijiji, a junction between Agulu and Nise on that Agukwunri junction, one RAV4 SUV overtook my car and blocked me and about four young men inside the vehicle, well-armed with weapons opened fire on me and my vehicle.

    “After some minutes of steady firing, one of them pulled me out of the vehicle and blindfolded me and pushed me into their waiting RAV4 vehicle and took me away to an unknown destination”.

    He said after some hours of driving, they pulled over and disembarked from the car and trekked for about 15 minutes until they got to a river bank he could not recognize, before his blindfold was removed.

    According to Emeakayi, from the interrogation by his abductors, it was obvious that his kidnap was political, just as he added that the leader of the gang which he said has about 80 men under his command from what he could count promised to call him and tell him the politician behind his abduction.

    The controversy or the rivalry between Emeakayi-led faction and its opponents continued all through 2014.

    In November of that year for example, there were conflicting reports over allegations that police operatives sealed off the secretariat of the Emeakayi-led faction in Akwa.

    This followed the controversy then that Emeakayi’s tenure had ended on the 24th of October, 2014 when the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) dissolved it, paving way for Ejike Oguebego to take over the leadership of the party in the Anambra State.

    2015 controversial primaries, elections

    The crisis and the controversies continued during this year’s National Assembly primaries and National Assembly elections. Several factions backed different aspirants even as many accused the party leadership of high handedness and imposition of favoured candidates.

    The poor performance of the party during the National Assembly elections in the state have been blamed largely on the confusion occasioned by this alleged imposition and other actions that have further divided rather than unite the party in the state.

    This situation was predictable even before the February elections. This was because of the large scale disaffection of many of the members. For example, in a lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court in Awka, last December, Chukwunweike (Chike) Maduekwe, a senatorial aspirant in Anambra State, while accusing the party of conducting “shady primaries” asked the court to declare that the PDP failed to conduct any primaries to elect candidates for the 2015 National Assembly election in the state.

    He urged the court to rule that “the PDP cannot use any gimmicks to circumvent its obligation to hold proper primaries that are consistent with the party’s electoral guidelines and the Electoral Act of 2010 (as amended): that the party, having failed to conduct primaries, may not field candidates for the National Assembly elections scheduled for February 14, 2015; that the PDP be compelled to refund the sum of N4.5 million it had collected from him as a nomination fee for the party’s senatorial ticket; and that INEC be restrained from accepting any purported list of candidates submitted by the PDP for National Assembly elections.

    In addition, Mr. Maduekwe, from Umudioka in Dunukofia Local Government Area, also sought “exemplary damages of N250 million” from the PDP which it accused of violating its electoral guidelines, pleading that the violation caused him “pain, hardship, and psychological trauma.”

    Given this situation many are worried if Emeakayi, who is known to be actively involved in the politics, as a factional leader, would be able to win the support of all.

    Commenting on the situation, Dr Francis Madumere, a human rights activist and political commentator, said, “It all depends on Emeakayi’s preparedness to forget the past, genuinely reach out to all the stakeholders. In Anambra State here, no candidate will emerge for that office that would not be traced to a faction or to one of the powerful godfathers. So, unifying Anambra PDP is a task someone must do. The lot is in the court of Emeakayi and his colleagues. What they make of the party now depends on them and their intentions.”

  • Again, floods threaten Anambra

    Again, floods threaten Anambra

    The grim memories of the 2012 overflow are still fresh, but a fresh deluge is threatening to reenact them in the state. NWANOSIKE ONU reports

    Barely three years ago, much of Anambra State was washed away, as were several other parts of the country.  Farmlands and homes were swept off. So were barns and livestock, to say nothing of human lives lost. 2012 was the year of the floods. Sadly, residents are getting a hint of a repeat.

    In such communities as Awka, the state capital, Onitsha, its commercial hub, Obosi, Oraukwu, Nise, Nibo and Abatete, there is a sense of the deluge all over again. The bridge along Oraukwu-Abatete Road in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state has collapsed. Ezigbo River has overflowed its banks. In Awka, Amikwo community has been flooded, while some of the residents have started moving out of the area for fear of drowning.

    One of the residents of the area, Comrade Obi Ochije, who chairs 20 villages of Ezinano, was in tears when he spoke with The Nation, saying that a security man nearly drowned.

    Most shops have been destroyed.

    No fewer than 10 houses, farmlands and an electricity transformer have been submerged in Agu-Awka community.

    Speaking with The Nation, the state chairman of Labour Party (LP), Chief Luke Ezeanokwasa from Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area said the Mili Ezigbo Bridge between Abatete and Oraukwu has been submerged.

    He said that the danger is that people who ply the route could be drowned anytime because the bridge is no longer visible.

    Ezenokwasa said that the people of Anambra expect Governor Willie Obiano to use the N75 billion cash and in investments left by his predecessor Peter Obi to alleviate the sufferings of the citizens, but so far, that is not the case.

    He said if the state government fails to give urgent attention to the Oraukwu-Abatete Bridge,  the death toll in the area will be very  alarming.

    Another area of concern is a 1km road in Amawbia and Nise, behind the Governor’s Lodge, which has become impassable every time it rains.

    The eight-hour rain in the state on Monday, which spilled to Tuesday, exposed all the leakages in the state, with most of the residents  rendered homeless.

    Ezeanokwasa said, “Fear has gripped the residents of Amikwo, in Awka South Local Government Area as gully erosion and flooding are threatening buildings.”

    “Many no longer drive into their houses as roads have become impassable, even the popular Keke Napep and commercial motorcycle no longer ply the area and residents park outside to trek to their homes”

    “Some of the streets mostly affected in Awka are Obi Ochije avenue, Rebecca Nwobu road, Evans Ebbe street and Annunciation road”

    a boy wading through flood water at an erosion site in Amikwo
    a boy wading through flood water at an erosion site in Amikwo

    “Our party frowns that after increased illegal and multiple taxes orchestrated by agents masquerading as government revenue collectors in Amikwo and other parts of the state, the government in Anambra could not clean the perennial drainage channels, it is shame” Ezeanokwasa said.

    For Comrade Obi Ochije, it was an appeal to Obiano to come to the aide of the residents as some of the people are finding solace in nearby villages.

    “Building flyovers by Obiano is good in Awka, but it will be suicidal after building the flyovers there are no persons to ply on them when flood [would have swept off] everybody.”

    “The governor is trying his best but he should not allow the people to all die through flood; the Obunagu Road links Amawbia Bypass which is an important road to the people.”

    Governor Obiano defied the rain to visit one of the flooded areas in Ngozika Estate in Awka where the house belonging to the retired Assistant Inspector General of police (AIG), Ikemefuna Okoye was submerged.

    Obiano sounded a note of warning that his administration would not hesitate to pull down structures erected on water channels in the state.

    Again, he threatened to enforce the prosecution of anyone whose  structure causes such blockages.

    The governor, who was disturbed by the situation of resurgent flooding in the state, said that his administration would look into its causes.

    “We have cautioned our people to observe basic rules and guidelines when embarking on the construction of their buildings.

    “We can see that the rain are here and is causing havoc here and there. People should desist from dumping refuse and blocking drains because it contributes to what we are witnessing. Anyone caught in the act will contend with relevant laws and where found guilty will be punished.”

    The governor expressed sympathy with the retired AIG, Ikemefuna Okoye whose house was among the ones submerged and instructed that the occupants be lodged in a hotel for few days, while remedial measures were made to check the flooding.

     

  • Flood submerges buildings, transformer in Anambra

    Flood submerges buildings, transformer in Anambra

    Ten buildings and an electric transformer were submerged in the aftermath flood of Monday’s rainfall in Agu-Awka, Anambra State.

    Residents said the flood destroyed property worth millions of naira.

    Some said they had been experiencing the ordeal during rainy seasons in the last five years, even before the 2012 flooding.

    They expressed fears that it may be worse this year when the rains set in fully and called on the government to correct the drainage work.

    Mrs. Jacinta Walters, a resident of Nwakpadolu Estate said she had lived in the area for three years and her apartment had been flooded five times, with valuables destroyed.

    Walters attributed the flooding to the bad drainage.

    “My television, mattresses, certificates and children’s academic files were destroyed; my house was filled with water up to window level, and you can see my children scooping water out of the house.

    “The neighbours here are not around but we broke the door to save their property; their kitchen and toilets are already under the water,” she said.

    Another resident, Mr. Okafor, said the flood endangered the people as reptiles, such as snakes and crocodiles, were seen floating on water after the rains.

    Okafor said the submerged transformer was a threat as residents could be electrocuted if there was spark or leakage.

    A landlord, Chief Joseph Nwakpadolu, said the flooding was caused by the enormity of flood channelled to the area from Agu-Awka, Arroma and Nkwo-Amenyi.

    He said the drainage channel to control these floods was inadequate and appealed to the government to remedy the situation.

    “The situation here is always bad during the rainy season, our farmland has been submerged, buildings are endangered and lives are not safe.

    “The flooding from the channel rushes into the estate because the culvert there cannot carry the water through, the transformer serving us is working but you can see it is under the water.

    “We appeal to the government to de-silt the area because the level is rising by the day and we cannot do these ourselves. Now that the rains are here, we pray there will not be an outbreak of epidemic and what happened in 2012,” Nwankpadolu said.

  • Anambra partners NTDC on Green City

    Anambra partners NTDC on Green City

    Director-General Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs Sally Mbanefo has described the Green City Project in Anambra State as a viable means of converting waste to wealth for revenue generation and job creation. She said that the project when fully developed would create 20,000 jobs in two years and boost Nigeria as a preferred destination for the growing eco-tourism market. Mbanefo spoke at a one-day sensitisation workshop for stakeholders in tourism in the state held at Awka, Anambra State capital.

    She said that the Green City Project is designed to deliver the green city initiative as a differentiating platform for Nigeria’s eco-tourism credentials with bio-fuel refinery for conversion of waste to wealth with other attractions like demonstration farms; botanical gardens; hotels; housing estates; sport facilities; industrial parks; solar farms; water parks, health malls, display of tourism artifacts that portray our cultural heritage.

    “The corporation has already found an international investor to sponsor the project for garbage to be converted into bio-fuels and bio-diesel that will be in stations manned by the youth and women in every state that can boast of huge garbage content. Dense population is a key success factor, Abuja, Onitsha, Ibadan, Kano and Lagos are excellent project models,” she said

    Anambra State Governor Chief Willie Obiano who lauded the foresight of the NTDC boss, Mrs. Mbanefo said his administration is ready to give the project the needed push to ensure its success in the state.

    Governor Obiano said tourism development and promotion are prioritised  by his administration describing the Green City project as a viable catalyst to creating employment in the state and the country at large, and also ensure a clean environment, “which my administration has been committed to since its inception.”

    He said Anambra State government is looking forward to having a good and progressive working relationship with NTDC and assured tourism stakeholders that his administration will open up one of the unique tourist attractions in the state, Ogbunike Caves, located in Ogbunike town in the Oyi local government area of the state. He added that the government would advertise the cave to enable the people of the state benefit from the tourist attraction.

    “Ogbunike Caves have 11 entrances, but only one has been explored. We shall open up other entrances to the unique tourist site, build a 5-star hotel and a game centre, among other world standard facilities around the site; then advertise it, and our people will maximally benefit from it,” Obiano assured.

    The NTDC boss also commended the governor’s “Operation Clean Up Anambra” as the best foundation for waste to wealth to thrive since all the garbage in each state must be centralised and cleaned off the streets, which she hoped would inspire other state governors to launch ‘a waste to wealth green city project.’

    Mbanefo who described Governor Obiano as a passionate administrator, willing and expended all his energy to ensure high quality of life for the people of the state, urged the Anambras to support the governor.

    Mbanefo urged the people of Anambra to embrace domestic tourism, this she said, will create more jobs and wealth in the society. She added that the people should endeavour to relax and recreate, as these ensure longevity and good quality of life, whilst appealing to other state governors to explore a waste to wealth opportunity for their states.

     

     

  • Anambra PDP holds congress amidst protest

    Anambra PDP holds congress amidst protest

    The congresses of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) kicked off Tuesday amidst protest, as the party’s big wigs were absent from the exercise.

    Though, some members trooped out in Umuokpu Awka, Otolo Nnewi, Ukpo in the three different local government areas in the state, some of the major stakeholders of the party boycotted the exercise.

    The five-man congress committee panel of the PDP was led by Mr. Ike Abonyi, with Bolarinwa Oluwaseun, Hon Mahmoud Bichi, Nuah Babatunde as members, while Barr Ugo Uyawunne is the secretary.

    However, some of the stakeholders of the party, led by comrade Tony Nwoye, Governorship candidate of the party in the state, told reporters Tuesday that if the National Working Committee (NWC) fails to shift the congress for at least five days, that they would explore other options.

    Surrounded by over 50 stakeholders of the party while briefing the reporters, Nwoye, said 98 percent of PDP members in the state were not aware of the exercise, because of the public holidays, and that those aspiring for positions in the state party did not purchase forms.

    According to him, “we challenge them to show us where they have published the names of those to conduct the congress as stipulates by the PDP guidelines.

    “Our members should be set for the next line of action within few days, if this impunity by some members of the party is not reversed, our Senators in the party were not aware of what is going on in the state, the acting National chairman of the party, Uche Secondus had been notified.”

    Nwoye, stated that it was an anathema for the publicity secretary of the party to sign an announcement for congress of the party, adding that it was the duty of the organising secretary.

    “There is no congress going on anywhere in the state, Metuh has written names of his stooges because, he wants to become National organising secretary of the party in November, 2015.”

    Others who equally spoke in that vein included, former deputy speaker of the state Assembly, Rt Hon Kelue Molokwu, former secretary to the state government, Hon Osy Ezenwa among others.

    Nwoye, further said that the former vice president, Dr Alex Ekwueme would be notified on the decision of the stakeholders as it concerns the congress, being the founder of PDP in Nigeria.

    “We do not want to give ultimatum to NWC, but the stakeholders will be meeting six hourly waiting for the final decision of the party, before we take our final decision on our next move in the next few days.”

    However, the leader of the five-man congress committee of PDP, Mr. Ike Abonyi told reporters after visiting some centres in some of the words, that they were satisfied with the turnout of PDP members, adding that it had shown that Anambra was PDP state.

    He said it was preparatory for the 2017 Governorship elections in the state, adding that the party was determined to take Anambra back to PDP.

    Abonyi, further commended the party members for the peaceful manner the congresses had gone in ward 7, Umuokpu in Awka South Council Area, Otolo Nnewi ward 1 in Nnewi North Council Area, and Ukpo ward 1 in Dunukofia Council Area.

    On the crisis and boycott of the congress by some stakeholders, Abonyi said that NWC approved the congress, adding that anybody who failed to participate should channel his or her grievances to the three man appeal committee of PDP or National Executive Council (NEC) of (PDP).

    Following the way the congress was going in the state; former chairman of the party, Prince Ken Emeakayi, recontesting for the position is likely to emerge as the new chairman.

    Meanwhile, the PDP congress was boycotted by the party’s big wigs including Senators Uche Ekwunife, Stella Oduah, Andy Uba, Chief Chris Uba, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, Prince Arthur Ezeh, Sir Emeka Offor, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Senator Joy Emodi, and Senator Ben Ndi Obi among others.

  • Anambra PDP congress holds

    Anambra PDP congress holds

    The is tension as the ward, local government and state congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State begins today.

    Various factions have emerged and this may likely thwart the exercise.

    Stakeholders are accusing the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, of fanning the renewed crisis by trying to impose the former chairman, Prince Ken Emeakayi.

    In a statement in Awka, the stakeholders urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to postpone the congress to allow interested candidates obtain their forms.

    They agreed that Option A4 should be used to allow for a credible election.

    “We will resist any kangaroo congress through writing of lists and submitting same as that has been the bane of party progress in the state,” the group said.

    But another group, led by Metuh, is accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using the protesters to destabilise PDP in the state.

    Addressing reporters at the weekend in Awka, Emeakayi said the PDP big wigs were pretending to be party members while they worked for the APC. He maintained that there was no crisis in the PDP, adding that the party was ready for today’s congress.