The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ekwunife

  • Stop this show of shame, Anambra women tell Ekwunife, Soludo’s wife

    Stop this show of shame, Anambra women tell Ekwunife, Soludo’s wife

    Anambra women have called on the wife of the state Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo and Senator Uche Ekwunife to stop their social media tantrums, describing it as a shame.

    The women are angry following altercations between the two distinguished ladies over political office.

    Ekwunife went gaga, following the governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo’s allegation that Ekwunife presented a fake’PhD’ degree instead of telling the public that she had only the West African Examination Council (WAEC) result.

    The governor also mocked the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, that he had F9 in his subjects.

    Soludo further said that nobody would give any woman of Ekwunife’s standing chance to lead Anambra as the November 8 governorship election draws close, calling her names.

    In her response, Ekwunife accused Soludo’s wife of having something to do with the late former Governor of the state, Dr Chinweoke Mbadinuju.

    However, annoyed with Ekwunife’s allegation, Mrs Soludo, challenged Ekwunife and her children to paternity tests, vowing to foot all the bills in London and not in any  Nigerian hospital.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Resident doctors commence five-day warning strike

    She said Governor Soludo married her Virgin, adding that only her husband has had carnal knowledge of her, describing the allegation as unpardonable.

    She has also threatened to go to court if Ekwunife fails to tender an apology within the next 72 hours as her lawyers are already studying the issue.

    “In all my life, I have lived an incredibly quiet family life, shunning publicity. One of the reasons I hate politics is precisely the kind of shameless obscenities from Uche Ekwunife in the name of “politics. 

    “I challenge you, Uche Ekwunife, for us to subject our children to paternity tests. Science has made life easy and there are things you cannot lie about nowadays.

    “To avoid any stories in Nigerian hospitals, let us do it in three reputable hospitals in London. You and your family are often in London. But I will pay the expenses,” Soludo’s wife said.

    Meanwhile, Anambra women have cautioned the two respected ladies to stop the naked dance, adding that what Anambra deserves now is prayers after so much bloodletting in the state by hoodlums.

    Dr Mrs Kate Obidigbo, told Weekend Nation in Awka that they’re already making arrangements on how to call them to order.

    “Some of the high profile women in the state have been detailed to speak with them. Our governor started this mess, he went too hard on Ekwunife and Ukachukwu. That’s not the way to play politics,” the elderly woman said.

  • Anambra 2025: Why Ukachukwu, Ekwunife could disrupt APGA’s hold on power

    Anambra 2025: Why Ukachukwu, Ekwunife could disrupt APGA’s hold on power

    As Anambrarians prepare for a season of electioneering there is every reason that the political landscape in Anambra State is set for a potentially seismic shift as Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife throw the gauntlet at the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)  deploying their combined political credentials, strategic positioning, and timing suggest they could mount the most credible challenge to APGA’s dominance in recent years.

    Senator Uche Ekwunife brings to this partnership a wealth of legislative experience that few politicians in Anambra can match. Having served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, where she performed impeccably well and understands the intricacies of governance at the federal level and the experience gives her unique insight into how federal resources can be channeled to benefit the state – something that could prove crucial in an era where federal allocation and intervention programs are increasingly important for state development.

    Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, on the other hand represents a threshold of new ideas with deep roots in Anambra’s grassroots . His background as a businessman provides him with a connect to the business community which is a very large constituency in the state. His business acumen offers a different perspective on economic development one that is welfarist in nature, similar to the policies of the likes of M.I Okpara.

    Both leaders bring significant credentials to the table. Senator Ekwunife’s legislative background and Prince Ukachukwu’s entrepreneurial experience provide them with practical knowledge of what it takes to create jobs and drive economic growth. In a state where unemployment and underemployment remain significant challenges, their combined business networks could attract investment and create opportunities that government alone cannot provide.

    READ ALSO; Top 10 busiest airports in the world by passenger traffic

    Together, they present a balanced ticket that combines experience with innovation, tradition with modernity.

    One of the most compelling aspects of this political partnership is how it transcends traditional party boundaries. If these two leaders can successfully unite different political factions and parties behind a common vision, they would create a formidable coalition that APGA would find difficult to counter. This kind of broad-based alliance has historically proven effective in Nigerian politics, where personal relationships and cross-party cooperation often matter more than strict party loyalty.

    The ability to bring together diverse political interests suggests strong negotiation skills and political maturity – qualities that voters often look for in leaders who promise to unite rather than divide. This contrasts sharply with the sometimes insular nature of single-party governance that has characterized APGA’s rule.

    Their understanding of both local and national economic dynamics positions them well to develop policies that can compete with APGA’s dismal record.

    In contrast, despite  APGA’s newfound desire for a relationship with federal authorities, the state’s ability to maximize federal benefits has been below par. A leadership team with proven federal connections could unlock resources and opportunities that have been difficult to access under the current arrangement.

    After years in power, APGA faces the natural challenges that come with incumbency. Voter fatigue, accumulated grievances, and the desire for change are common factors that opposition candidates can exploit. The state’s exploitative nature where traders and petty businesses have been repeatedly taxed to stupor and where operatives of the state such as his anti touting squad aka Ndi Aka Odo( People with pestles) have become beasts bearing brutality to the common folk, harassing and extorting hapless innocent citizens.

    Governor Soludo seems to have lost his footing as governor, his projects since inception seem to be more cosmetic than development driven. For example, the funds used for the completion of the Government House Anambra now renamed “Light House” would have been enough to gift Anambra 3 power plants, can we imagine the possibilities of a power plant per senatorial district? Can we imagine the solution to our power conundrum and the leapfrogging of our society from a commercial to an industrial giant, competing with states like Lagos and Rivers, positioning Anambra to becoming perhaps the first 20 economies in Africa?

    So when the state government begins to celebrate such and other sugar candy land like projects like Anambra Solution Fun City in a state like Anambra in which a 30 percent of its youth population are unemployed and another 30 percent are underemployed, one wonders if this was the same man the state voted for In the 2021 elections.

    Even its narrative on security following the emergence of its security outfit, Udo Ga Achi appears shaky as the state has continued to be at the receiving end of criminals with the government looking more helpless whilst prominent citizens have reportedly abandoned the state whilst the ordinary citizen has resorted to self sustaining techniques to protect themselves and their loved ones.

     The candidature of Prince Ukachukwu and Senator Ekwunife are well-positioned to present themselves as agents of renewal who will address the shortcomings of the current administration while building on its limited successes.

    Their combined profile allows them to appeal to different segments of the electorate – from business communities seeking economic reform to traditional constituencies looking for respected leadership, and from federal stakeholders wanting better integration to local communities seeking more responsive governance.

    The success of this partnership will largely depend on their ability to build a unified campaign organization and maintain cohesion among their diverse supporters. If they can successfully merge their respective political structures and create an efficient campaign machine, they would pose a serious organizational challenge to APGA’s established political network.

    Their combined resources, experience, and networks provide the foundation for such organization, but the execution will be crucial. The ability to coordinate effectively across different constituencies and maintain message discipline will determine whether their potential translates into electoral success.

    Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife represent more than just another opposition challenge to APGA. Their political antecedents and appeal to the grassroots as well as other constituencies both formal and informal creates a unique political proposition that addresses many of the perceived weaknesses in the current system.

    While APGA retains the advantages of incumbency and established governance structures, this partnership presents the kind of comprehensive alternative that could genuinely disrupt the political status quo. Their success will depend on their ability to maintain unity, execute effective campaigns, and convince voters that change is both necessary and achievable.

    The political dynamics they bring to the table suggest that APGA will need to significantly up its game to maintain its hold on power. Whether this translates into electoral victory remains to be seen, but their candidature certainly represents the most formidable challenge APGA has faced in recent political cycles.

  • Group hails Ekwunife for peaceful congress

    Lagos State Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko Vanguard has commended Chairman of Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Election Organising Committee, Senator Uche Ekwunife, for conducting a peaceful congress.

    Its National Co-ordinator, Seyi Bamigbade hailed the flawless transition and the peaceful conduct of members of the party.

    Bamigbade said Lagos State has been having smooth change in governance. He thanked APC members from wards, local governments to the state Level for their loyalty to the party.

    He congratulated Tunde Balogun-led State Executive.

    Apex Leader of group, Alhaji Babatunde Rotinwa, who is the Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, said the performance of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode merit for the targeted five million votes.

  • Ekwunife, Danbazzau, Eweka, Zwingina, 70 others head APC congresses, appeal panels

    •Party cautions against unilateral postponement of congresses

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated five-member committees to conduct state congresses in different states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday.

    Three-member committees were also inaugurated to entertain appeals that may arise from the State Congresses.

    Some state congress chairmen are H.E. Pius Odubu (Adamawa); Gen. Danjuma Danbazzau (Taraba); Prince Austin Eweka (Kano); Senator Domingo Obende (Niger); Senator Jonathan Zwingina (Abia); Senator Olugbenga Obadara (Delta); Senator Uche Ekwunife (Lagos); Mathew Omegara (Ondo); H.E. Peter Obadan (Ogun); H.E. Abdullahi Gwarzo (Oyo) among others.

    The appeal committees have among others H.E. Chris Akoma as chairman of Ebonyi State; Gbenga Elegbeleye (Rivers); Bashir Lado (Ogun);  SAbubakar Maikudi (Bauchi); Ambassador Jerry Ugog (Kano); and Kogolo Peter (Imo).

    APC National Organising Secretary Senator Osita Izunaso, who inaugurated the committees on behalf of the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, told the committees members the congresses must be conducted in strict conformity with the official APC Guidelines for State Congresses.

    Izunaso said the committees were expected to hold meetings with stakeholders in the respective states on Friday before Saturday’s nationwide congresses to elect state executive committee, which include the official 17-member State Working Committees.

    The organising secretary urged the committees to ensure a free, fair, democratic and transparent process. He also warned against unilateral postponement of state congresses without approval by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    Izunaso: “Don’t deny anybody who has a payment teller a form. It is undemocratic… You don’t have the power to postpone the election. If you go to a state and you find out that it is impossible to conduct the election, you inform the NWC for approval. The National Convention is close by. We want to conclude these processes as quickly as possible.”

    For the Appeal Committees, Izunaso said every petition from individuals who contested elections must be entertained. He cautioned the appeal committees to gauge the security situation in their respective state in deciding where to hold appeal sittings.

    He said the NWC has the final decision on appeals.

     

     

    “If the place is volatile for the Appeal Committee, and they cannot sit there, you can sit in Abuja,” Izunaso said.

     

    Protesters demand APC National Organising Secretary’s sack

    •’Allegations are false’

    SOME members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday stormed the party’s national secretariat and demanded the sack of the National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso.

    They accused him of manipulating the recent ward and local government congresses in states.

    The group, under the auspices of Democratic Youth Congress for Buhari 2019, arrived at the APC secretariat in two luxury buses, carrying placards with inscriptions “Sen. Osita must go”.

    The protesters, who were led by a serving House of Assembly lawmaker from Nasarawa State, Kassim Muhammad Kassim, accused Osita of indirectly working for opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to frustrate re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

    In a complaint letter addressed to the APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, dated May 17, the protesters called for a fresh ward congress in Imo State and some other states where there are issues to be settled.

    The letter, which was presented to the party leadership, was copied to the President, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Commissioner and the FCT Director of Directorate of State Services (DSS).

    It, however, took the stiff resistance of the police and other security agents at the APC headquarter to prevent the protesters from gaining entrance into the premises.

    But responding on behalf of Izunaso, former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Ibejiako Ernest, dismissed the allegations, saying the protesters should not be taken serious.

    Ernest, who also served at the Federal House of Representatives, said: “I can tell you that all the allegations are false. Senator Izunaso has conducted himself decently since he became the National Organising Secretary of our party, the APC. As a good son of Imo State, he has done his best for the party.”

     

     

     

  • Anambra Central poll: Umeh defeats Ekwunife at Supreme Court

    Anambra Central poll: Umeh defeats Ekwunife at Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by Mrs. Uche Ekwunife challenging the refusal of the Court of Appeal to set aside its earlier judgement of December 7, 2015, which sacked her as the senator representing Anambra Central District and ordered a rerun poll, thereby disqualifying her and the PDP from the exercise.
    Ekwunife had approached the apex court asking it to upturn the decision of the Appellate Court to stand by the ruling that sent her packing from the Senate, which was given consequent upon an appeal by the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, against the tribunal verdict that upheld her victory in the March 28, 2015 Senate election.
    But, the Supreme Court, its judgement, refused to grant Ekwunife’s request, describing her move as a flagrant abuse of court process. The Supreme Court maintained that it had no jurisdiction on the matter, pointing out that issues arising from the National Assembly election petition tribunal ends in the Court of Appeal according to Section 246, Subsection 3 of the constitution. The lead judgement was read by Justice Amina Augie. Other; Justices agreed with the judgement. They wondered why anybody would engage in such a futile exercise when the constitution is very clear on the matter. The Justices said before the Supreme Court can assume jurisdiction on matters relating to legislative elections, to go to the National Assembly has to amend the constitution.
    Speaking with reporters after the ruling, Umeh said: “From day one, it was clear that this appeal was brought in total disobedience to the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. And the constitution you know is the grundnorm. That is the supreme document. If there is a clear provision in the constitution, there is no way you can circumvent it in pursuit of your personal interest or ambition. When we came here on 14th of November (2016), I addressed you after the hearing of the appeal. I said the only way this appeal will succeed is if the constitution is amended. And if it is amended today, it will not take a retroactive effect. So, it was obvious to us that what they were trying to do is not less than what the Supreme Court described to be flagrant disobedience to the Constitution of Nigeria.”
    He added: “Today is the third time I am coming to this court and wining. I have never resorted to violence throughout my political life. I was in this Supreme Court on 25th of March 2011 when I defeated Chekwas Okorie. On 15th of January last year I was here, I won. I defeated Maxi Okwu. Today, the 10th of February 2017, again, I won. I don’t know how many people who have travelled to the Supreme Court three times and won all. I always make sure I adhere to the law, the provisions of the constitution and judicial precedents in pursuing my defence.”
    Asked what should be the way forward for the Anambra Central rerun election with the judgement, Umeh remarked: “The next thing to do now is for INEC to fix the date for the fresh election ordered by the Court of Appeal.
    This judgement has resolved all the issues. Firstly, the judgement read this morning has confirmed that PDP’s candidate was disqualified by the Court of Appeal before it ordered for the fresh election. That being the case, under our law, somebody who was disqualified in an election can no longer take part in the fresh election. Supreme Court has decided it since 13th of February 2009 – this Supreme Court.

  • Ekwunife, a fair-weather politician

    SIR: “Most importantly, our deep concern is her record which showed that she dumps political parties at will, leaving the parties in its wake factionalized – from the Peoples Democratic Party to All Progressives Grand Alliance, to Progressive Peoples Alliance, back to PDP or vice versa and now to APC.  She is more or less a fair-weather-hen.”

    That was the verdict delivered by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial Screening Committee a couple of weeks ago as it rejected the candidacy of Uche Ekwunife on it party’s platform for the Anambra Central Senatorial District.

    Last month, the Court of Appeal had annulled Ekwunife’ election as senator.  The court ordered that a fresh election be conducted within 90 days.  She has been scrambling since then to return to the Senate.  Ekwunife had won a seat in the Senate as a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, but something funny happened and the lady refused to return to the party – or vice versa.

    Well, let’s hear it from madam herself: “My good people of Anambra Central, the outcome of what we witnessed was a conspiracy between some elements in PDP and the state government who were panicking over what they referred to as my rising profile.”

    Strictly speaking, this is not exactly true.  Ekwunife bolted the PDP because that party advertised in four national newspapers that it would not participate in further political elections or congresses including the Anambra Central Senatorial election re-run until its national spokesman, Olisa Metuh, who was back then still grooming his now luxurious beard within the confines of a lonely cell in Kuje prison, is released.  Nigerian politicians don’t play that kind of game.  Party primaries are time-bound; so the lady quickly moved on.

    Before she moved on to another party however, Ekwunife had to tidy up some loose ends.  She claimed, “…some leaders from South East called me on phone and said that since they have nullified the election and requested for fresh election, why don’t we use this opportunity to play national politics?”  So Ekwunife had to reach out to the APC.  You see, whilst previously campaigning for the Senate as a PDP candidate, Ekwunife happily referred to the APC as a ‘terrorist party.’  She had since apologised to the APC.  She said she was only joking when she made that comment.

    In just seven years, Mrs Ekwunife changed political parties four times.  By 2007, Ekwunife was in the House of Representatives courtesy of the PDP.  Four years later, her nose to the ground, she followed the political wind of change in Anambra, dumped the PDP and sailed into the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).  Before her election into the Senate last March, she had twice contested the governorship of Anambra state under PPA and APGA and lost both times.

    Now she’s tried to follow another wind of change back to the Senate, but the APC screening committee has only gone and said no!

    Where Ngige could not sweep well with an APC broom because the people are not too sold on APC’s seemingly segregationist policies, Ekwunife was desperate enough to want to try.  Alas, even the APC says Iyom is not good enough for them.

    Mrs Ekwunife now finds herself effectively stranded.  What’s a gal to do…?

    • Michael Egbejumi-David

    demdem@hotmail.co.uk        

  • Anambra Central rerun: Ekwunife leads with wide margin

    Anambra Central rerun: Ekwunife leads with wide margin

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for the Anambra Central Senatorial rerun, which held yesterday was inconclusive as there was confusion midway into the election.

    The Appeal Court cancelled the April 11, 2015 election and ordered a rerun within 90 days. But the APC candidate, now Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said he was not interested in the rerun.

    The election was stopped after four councils had voted and Senator Uche Ekwunife, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led with 284 votes as against former acting women leader, Lady Sharon Ikeazor, who polled 35 votes.

    Speaking with The Nation, Ekwunife said the inconclusive congress would be determined by the party’s leadership and that their decision would be sacrosanct.

    She called on her supporters to remain calm and prayerful as they await the final primary election into the remaining councils of the zone.

    The primaries were handled by a five-man committee chaired by Senator Domin Obande. Others included Atiku Abubakar, Gideon Mefor, Dickson Tarkigkhia and Omegara.

    The election was scheduled to resume today but it did not hold.

  • Anambra Central: Ekwunife’s riddle echoes in PDP, APGA

    Anambra Central: Ekwunife’s riddle echoes in PDP, APGA

    Senator Uche Ekwunife’s sudden defection to All Progressives Congress (APC), her quest to fly the party’s flag and the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) desperate search for a new candidate have further complicated the maneuverings for all the leading parties in the forthcoming fresh senatorial election in Anambra Central Senatorial District, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

    The forthcoming fresh election in Anambra Central Senatorial District will pass as one of Nigeria’s most complicated re-run senatorial polls this year.

    This is because apart from the top calibre of aspirants vying for the plum seat on the platform of the various parties, Senator Uche Ekwunife’s sudden defection to All Progressives Congress (APC) and her determination to pick the party’s ticket has not only changed the political permutations in the district but have also raised what observers described as some of the most complicated posers for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and for stakeholders.

    Ekwunife, who was inaugurated in June, 2015, as a PDP senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, was announced the winner of the election as she polled 101,548 votes to beat very powerful contenders, including former National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, who got 77,129 votes and former governor of the state, Senator Chris Ngige of APC, who got 20,850 votes.

    But the Appeal Court sitting in Enugu on December 7, 2015, in its judgment on the appeal filed by Umeh, picked holes in Ekwunife’s nomination as PDP candidate in the March 28, 2015 National Assembly Election. It therefore upturned her victory, ruling that her election “did not meet the prescriptions of the Electoral Act.”

    In the lead judgment, the chairman of the three-man appeal panel, Justice A.D Yahaya, not only sacked Ekwunife but also ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election in the zone within 90 days.

    Since then, the politics of Anambra Central Senatorial District has become most intriguing as aspirants and political lords, with very deep pockets, have returned to the field for what observers said would be ‘a grand battle.’ Grippingly, it is Ekwunife, the same politician whose election to the senatorial seat was upturned by the appeal court that is taking the lead in the current grand scheming to secure the plum seat. Her first stratagem, The Nation gathered, re-echoed as a rude bang in the camp of her political rivals, some of who never expected such a twist at a time like this.

    Ekwunife’s joker

    The judgment of the appeal court, sacking the then PDP senator, Uche Ekwunife, and ordering a fresh election in the district was, according to informed observers, big enough to rustle wings and raise the political tempo in the zone and across the state. So, everyone expected the political atmosphere of Anambra Central to regain life after the ruling. What, perhaps, only few people could have foreseen then was that Ekwunife would play a joker to raise the stakes further. This came in the form of her defection and her interest to fly the party’s flag.

    Commenting on the development, Chief Vitalis Nwulu, a PDP chieftain in Anambra State said, “Without mincing words, may I admit that we never expected Ekwunife to dump PDP at the time she did and to go for APC ticket. I say so because I am aware that not all the leaders of PDP in the state agree with the conclusion that the court’s ruling meant end of the road for Ekwunife in PDP. No! Now that she opted to go to APC, no one needs be told that this Ngige party has gained more weight in the state. For all of us, whether in PDP or APGA, no one can be sure again that APC will not regain Anambra Central. Even if he denies it, I think Umeh or our candidate would prefer not to contend with the combined forces of Ngige and Ekwunife on the platform of APC.”

    Nwulu added that the challenge is even more pronounced in PDP which Ekwunife dumped. He said, “Anambra Central’s fresh election is a major trial of PDP’s future in Anambra State here. Divided as the party is today and with the kind of aspirants the party currently boasts of, everyone is interested in how the party will amend its broken fences and move forward. PDP here cannot deny that Ekwunife has left a big challenge for it.”

    PDP’s challenge

    It seems generally accepted that the current political confusion in Anambra Central election draws primarily from what the appeal court described as the invalid PDP primary preceding the actual polls.  As soon as the Appeal Court gave its ruling, there was confusion in the various camps of Anambra State PDP as the perplexed leadership of the party battled with the situation, troubled by several posers: How much of the current leadership dilemma in the state chapter of PDP could be resolved in the days to the fresh elections? Before Ekwunife made public her defection to APC, PDP leaders wondered how they will deal with whether Ekwunife was disqualified or not from participating in the fresh election. Some even expressed concern over the possibility of INEC not allowing the party to conduct another primary. PDP critics had contended that contrary to paragraph 25, sub section 1 of the PDP constitution and section 138(1)(a) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, PDP did no conduct a legally acceptable primary as stated in the National Assembly election guidelines.

    It would be recalled that during the 2015 National Assembly Elections in Anambra, PDP was bogged down with crisis arising from its inability to resolve the leadership challenge as it paraded a factionalised state executive, led by Ken Emekaiyi and Ejike Oguebego factions.

    As a top PDP chieftain in Anambra Central, who do not want to be named now lamented, “the party operated without any order, there was no recognizable, acceptable or accepted state executive, we didn’t conduct ward congresses from where the three man delegates would have emerged to conduct the election of the National Assembly candidates. Then, several primaries were purportedly held and candidates elected. The question we cannot honestly answer is who elected them?” We asked this question at the top leadership meetings but our colleagues in Abuja refused to listen. Now, the consequence was the rash of court cases by senatorial aspirants, who, while arming themselves with forged documents and claiming to have won the primary, sought the intervention of the courts in declaring them winners.

    Who will fly PDP flag?

    Giving an insider’s clues into how PDP may handle the current development, especially on the fate of the many aspirants now that Ekwunife is in APC, Vitalis Nwulu said, “We are all aware of the confusion in Anambra PDP today, especially as it relates to the primary. Anambra Central is peculiar simply because the Appeal Court sacked the party’s candidate, Senator Ekwunife, who is now in APC.

    “From all indications, Senator Annie Okonkwo is not in the race because he is a candidate of a primary produced by the Oguebego/Chris Uba faction, whose case is in the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court rules in their favour, then this new election will be null and void and people like Andy Uba, Stella Oduah will be sacked.

    “But in the midst of the confusion in Anambra in general and in the Central in particular, I insist that PDP has another chance of cleaning up this mess. I think the field is lean as Ekwunife is gone and Annie Okonkwo is not going to contest. Also, Chike Maduekwe is unlikely to participate because he has a case in court, whose outcome can nullify the chances of PDP in the election. A few others are there but I think Dr. Obiora Okonkwo remains the biggest name today. You will recall that but for the emergence of Ekwunife with all her strategies, Obiora Okonkwo was cruising to the ticket in 2015.

    “Without prejudice to anybody’s personal ambition, I think Obiora Okonkwo is the man to resurrect PDP in Anambra Central at a time like this; he has the capacity, caliber, etc. He has the charisma to become the rallying point, the bridge between the aggrieved members and the party. Lovers of the party in the state should rally round him to survive the prevailing confusion because in truth, he had won the original primaries and should have been the genuine PDP candidate before Ekwunife’s curious emergence,” he said.

    Besides Okonkwo, another aspirant who is currently considered as a major contender by some top PDP leaders is the former Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) boss/former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka. Insiders said there is renewed move this week by some members of the National Working Committee of PDP and some leaders of a faction of the local chapter of the party in Anambra State to nominate and push for Chidoka’s emergence as the party’s flag bearer.

    APGA’s fears

    Although he has the official support of Governor Willie Obiano, the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Chief Victor Umeh, according to feelers, is not unaware of the challenge posed by the combined forces of APC’s Ngige and Ekwunife.

    According to Ifeanyi Uchechukwu, an APGA supporter, “Anambra, which used to be a PDP state has remained an APGA state since the emergence of the party and our candidate, Chief Umeh, is a political bulldozer who cannot be taken for granted, so we are certain to win. However, while we are happy at the confusion in PDP, owing to the continued factionalisation, nobody here feels comfortable with Ekwunife joining forces with Ngige. We are not unaware that the two are strong politicians, with wide followership,” he said, adding, “but with Umeh and Obiano, we are hopeful.”

    APC’s strategy

    Although Uche Ekwunife’s defection to APC has been described by some as a swift joker, the party, we learnt, is not taking any chances by creating the impression that it will just hand over the party’s ticket to her without taking democratic measures that will help carry other interested aspirants along. This explains why APC leaders, like the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, had said that a democratic process would be adhered to in order to decide who will fly the party’s flag in the forthcoming election.

    Given Ekwunife’s massive preparations in the last six days and the impact already made in further popularizing APC in the zone, many observers said Ekwunife may be APC’s joker to recover Anambra Central while retaining Ngige as a minister. Our investigation shows that the other leading parties in the race, the ruling APGA and PDP are not however comfortable with this strategy.

  • Ekwunife lobbies Apc for senatorial ticket

    Ekwunife lobbies Apc for senatorial ticket

    Former Senator representing Anambra Central Uche Ekwunife is lobbying the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the party’s ticket in the rerun ordered by the Court of Appeal.

    Ekwunife, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC arrived the party’s National Secretariat at about 1pm yesterday to lobby the leadership to hand her the ticket.

    Ekwenife, who was elected on the platform of the PDP was sacked by the Court of Appeal in a judgment delivered by Justice A.H. Yahya.

    The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 90 days from the date of the judgment.

    She was seen moving round the offices after leaving the office of the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. But it was not clear if she got an audience with the chairman or any other party official.

    Sources said she also made efforts to meet with the National Auditor, Chief George Moghalu who is her senatorial district.

    Ekwunife declined to speak on her defection and visit to the party’s secretariat.

    It was also gathered that the APC’s candidate in the election and now Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Chris Ngige, said he was not interested in the rerun. It is however, not  clear whether the APC will be allowed to substitute Ngige.

    Section 33 of the Electoral Act states that: “A political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted pursuant to section 32 of this Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate.

    However, section 35 of the Electoral Act says: “A candidate may withdraw his candidature by notice in writing signed by him and delivered by himself to the political party that nominated him for the election and the political party shall convey such withdrawal to the Commission not later than 45 clays to the election”.

    Even though the Electoral Act is silent on whether a party can substitute a candidate for a rerun ordered by the court, Ekwunife is believed to be interested in replacing Ngige as the party’s candidate for the election.

  • Umeh: Ekwunife can’t contest on APC

    Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Victor Umeh has said the defection of Senator Ucher Ekwunife, representing Anambra Central, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) disqualified her from contesting in the rerun.

    Umeh spoke at the weekend in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

    The Appeal Court in Enugu State on December 6, 2015, nullified Ekwunife’s election on grounds of irregularities and ordered a rerun within 90 days.

    But Ekwunife, last Friday, announced her defection from the PDP, under which she contested the annulled election.

    Chief Umeh insisted that the Appeal Court’s judgment already disqualified Ekwunife from being part of the rerun, saying her defection with the intention of flying the APC’s flag was done in ignorance.

    “I think she is exhibiting crass ignorance of the laws. When she is disqualified by the Court of Appeal, there is no way she would be part of the election any longer.

    “The law is that the dramatic personae in the previous election will contest the rerun. The Supreme Court, in 2009, in a judgment delivered by Justice Ogbuagu made it clear that a candidate cannot be changed or withdrawn in a rerun because the period of nomination had elapsed and cannot be resurrected under any guise.

    “So joining the APC in pursuant of a ticket that is not available, is a decision made in ignorance,” Umeh said.