The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nwoye

  • Anambra North divided over Nwoye, Obiano

    Anambra North is divided, following the emergence of two governorship candidates from the senatorial zone.

    At the weekend, an attempt by members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra North to cunningly get their candidate, Chief Willie Obiano, endorsed by the Anambra North Peoples’ Assembly (ANPA) caused a division among the people.

    Members from other parties walked out of a meeting called to harmonise things.

    ANPA convened the meeting to enable the people of the zone come together and forge a common front to ensure that the next governor comes from Anambra North.

    The meeting was attended by personalities from the area, including the lawmaker representing Anambra North, Senator Margery Okadigbo.

    The meeting was moving smoothly, with speeches by people on the need to support the zone to emerge victorious, before two prominent APGA members, wearing APGA/Obiano’s campaign uniforms, spoke in a language that angered many.

    The duo said the only governorship candidate from the zone was the APGA standard-bearer, Obiano and that the people should “stop beating about the bush”, but should campaign for him.

    One of them even insinuated in a song that Aguleri (Obiano’s town) cannot be defeated in a war.

    This angered many, who felt it was becoming a clannish and party issue. They walked out of the meeting.

    Before this, some people had said the zone had two strong candidates from two strong parties, Obiano of APGA and Comrade Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The speakers urged the people to postpone the discussion till about five days when the Supreme Court would have given judgment on who the PDP candidate is.

    However, it took the presence of Senator Okadigbo to calm the people.

    Addressing the crowd, the lawmaker expressed sadness on the conduct of some of the people, who she said were missing the point.

    She said: “From the action of some of you, it means you have not understood what the real issue is. We prayed that parties should elect their candidates from our zone, and thank God we now have candidates from here.

    “Making a noise about PDP or APGA is senseless at this point. What we need is to go out to the other zones and ask them to support us because Anambra North alone cannot win this election.

    “Let’s forget about whether it is APGA or PDP. I am in a position to tell you the truth because I’m in Abuja and I know the thinking of Abuja. So my people, let us not use our hands to spoil the golden chance God has given us.”

     

     

  • Anambra PDP: Court voids Nwoye’s candidacy

    The crisis over who represents the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State has taken a new twist.

    A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has voided the candidacy of Tony Nwoye, who emerged winner of the August 14 primary election conducted by the Ken Emeakayi-led faction.

    The suit was filed by one of the PDP aspirants, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, on August 28.

    Ukachukwu, through his lead counsel, Rickey Tarfa (SAN), had sought the court’s leave to void Nwoye’s candidature as declared by the PDP and accepted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    In a certified true copy of the judgment delivered by Justice S.A Aliyu yesterday, the court held that Nwoye was not eligible to participate in the August 24 primary election conducted under the supervision of Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State.

    The judge declared Ukachukwu the PDP candidate on the grounds that he was the only qualified aspirant in the said primary election.

    According to Justice Aliyu, Ukachukwu scored the highest number of votes cast at the election. He restrained Nwoye from parading himself as the PDP candidate for the election.

    The judge also restrained the PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, leadership of the party and INEC from presenting Nwoye as the PDP candidate.

    “It is hereby declared that based on the dictates of paragraph 4(a) of Part IV of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections 2010 of the Peoples Democratic Party, the first defendant (Tony Nwoye) was not eligible to participate and or take part in the primary election conducted on the August 24 by the second defendant (PDP) for the selection of its candidate for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled to hold on November 16 or another date.

    “An order of mandatory injunction is hereby made compelling the fourth defendant (INEC) to recognise, screen the plaintiff (Ukachukwu), publish and put his name on the ballot paper as the authentic candidate of the second defendant (PDP) for the Anambra State governorship election,” Justice Aliyu ruled.

    The judgment is coming on the heels of the expiration of the INEC deadline for the submission of candidates’ names in the election.

    The PDP had submitted Nwoye’s name to the INEC as the party’s candidate, ahead of the deadline, which expired yesterday.

     

  • Anambra poll: Nwoye gets certificate of return

    … Ubas, others shun PDP summon

     The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 16 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Mr. Tony Nwoye, was on Wednesday presented with a certificate of return by the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

    The presentation came just as the Uba brothers, Andy and Chris shunned the summon extended to them by the leadership of the party.

    Also summoned alongside the Uba brothers were Chief Benji Udeozor and Mrs. Tonia Nwankwo. They were ordered to appear before the party’s leadership at 10am on Wednesday.

    None of them honoured the invitation.

    They were summoned to explain their roles in the conduct of an August 24 parallel primary election through which Andy Uba emerged as PDP candidate for the Anambra poll.

    Shortly after collecting his certificate, Nwoye told reporters that he remained the authentic candidate of the party.

    Nwoye emerged from the Ken Emeakayi led faction from which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had withdrawn recognition.

    On the other hand, Andy Uba emerged a parallel candidate from the Ejike Oguebego led faction. Oguebego is recognised by the electoral commission as the authentic chairman of the Anambra chapter of the PDP.

     

     

  • Obiano, Nwoye, Ngige to battle for Anambra governor

    Obiano, Nwoye, Ngige to battle for Anambra governor

    The stage is set for the epic battle for the Anambra State governorship seat, with the emergence of candidates of the three major political parties.

    Yesterday, Chief Willie Obiano emerged winner in the primaries conducted by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)  in Awka, the state capital.

    APGA is the ruling party in the state with Governor Peter Obi elected on its ticket.

    Obiano was a Deputy Director of Fidelity Bank PLC. He hails from Anambra East council in the Anambra North Senatorial Zone of the state. APGA had stated that it zoned the governorship position to Anambra north.

    Obiano got 817 votes out of the possible 1,076 according to the Chairman of the electoral Panel, Chief Martin Agbaso. House of Representatives member Mrs Uche Ekwunife got 150 votes to place second.

    Chief Patrick Obianwu also from Anambra north, stepped down for Obiano, saying his move would keep the dream of the zone producing the next governor alive.

    The remaining six aspirants and their votes are: Chief Paul Odenigbo (49 votes), Emeka Nwogbo (22 votes) John Nwosu (18 votes) Mr. John Emeka whose withdrawal was turned down for his absence, scored one vote. Sixteen votes were voided.

    Also yesterday, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Bamanga Tukur announced Tony Nwoye as its governorship candidate.

    Nwoye emerged on Saturday from the primaries conducted by the national secretariat -recognised Chief Ken Emekayi Group while Senator Andy Uba was elected as the candidate by the factional congress conducted by court and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)-recognised chairman of the State PDP, Chief Ejike Oguebego.

    Although the All Progressives Congress (APC) congress is slated for Monday, but following a consensus arrangement announced last week, Senator Chris Ngige has been picked as the candidate of the APC.

    The Monday APC congress will only serve as the coronation of his candidacy.

    Obi told his party members not to relent in their support as APGA was determined to retain the state.

    ‘’For the past 11 years, I’ve being a member of APGA and I have always told people to believe in APGA.

    Obi said “The forthcoming election is a serious one for APGA because we are going into the election with Philosophy of existentialism. For us to exist we must win that election but we must be together. In the next few days we will bring everybody together. We cannot win a medal if we are not together. This state is APGA state and we remain APGA state.

    Obi assured that the party members that all party members would work together to achieve victory.

  • Nwoye named Anambra PDP candidate

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced Tony Nwoye as the party’s candidate for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

    The National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, aid Nwoye was elected at the primaries held on Saturday by the Ken Emeakayi-led faction.

    The announcement was based on a report on the result submitted to the party’s leadership by Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema.

    Shema was the chairman of a five-man congress committee set up the PDP to conduct the primaries.

    According to the report, Nwoye scored 498 votes to beat Nicholas Ukachukwu, who scored 357 votes. Alex Obiogolu was said to have come third with 13 votes.

    The report said 14 aspirants participated in the congress in which 916 delegates voted.

    However, a parallel congress conducted by the Ejike Oguebego faction declared Andy Uba as the party’s candidate for the same election.

    The Oguebego faction is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Thanking the Shema committee, Tukur said Nwoye’s election was sacrosanct and that Anambra PDP had spoken.

    He added that the PDP does not have any anointed candidate and that Nwoye emerged through a free, fair and transparent process.

    However, stakeholders in the party are worried about the crisis that marred the primaries. While the congress that produced Uba was conducted by the authentic chairman of the troubled chapter, the accredited delegates participated in the factional congress that produced Nwoye.

  • Anambra: PDP declares Nwoye as flag bearer

    Anambra: PDP declares Nwoye as flag bearer

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced a parallel candidate, Mr. Tony Nwoye, as the party’s candidate for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

    The National chairman of the (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, announced Nwoye as winner of the party’s primaries held on Saturday.

    The election was conducted by the Ken Emeakayi -led faction of the state’s executive committee.

    The announcement was based on a report on the election submitted to the party’s leadership by Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema.

    Shema was the chairman of a five-man Anambra governorship congress committee set up the PDP to conduct the election.

    According to Shema’s report, Nwoye scored 498 votes to beat Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu who scored 357 votes. Dr. Alex Obiogolu came third with 13 votes.

    The report said 14 aspirants participated in the congress in which 916 delegates voted.

    However, a parallel congress conducted by the Ejike Oguebego faction had declared Mr. Andy Uba as winner of the congress and by extension the party’s flag bearer for the same election.

    The Oguebego faction is the one recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while the PDP leadership backed the Emeakayi faction.