*dares off-the-shelf Abuja political merchants
As the various Anambra state governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for the election coming up on Nov 16 later this year battles with their documentation ahead of the submission of the nomination forms in readiness to the screening deadline comes up tomorrow Thursday, some new trends appear to have emerged.
The grassroots members who described themselves as the real electorates back in the villages of the 177 constituting communities of the state have sworn to square up vehemently with those they tagged “off-the-shelf Abuja-based political merchants”, this time around.
But in a quick reaction, the party chairman, Prince Kenneth Emeakayi has reassured all the aspirants that there is not going to be any sacred cow. But that all of them would be treated equally in the interest of justice, fair play, good neighborliness and democracy.
According to their spokesman and Coordinator,Chief Byron Igwe, the rural folks have decided to speak out this time around against any attempt by those who parade the corridors of power at Abuja that usually torpedo the wishes of the electorate in the choice of representation.
In their two-page presentation, Chief Igwe noted that the electorates have this time refused to endorse the nomination forms of these mercantilist politicians, while willingly endorsing that of those they honor.
Hear him,”we only identify with those who identify with us. Most of these people now scrambling for forms remained aloof, apolitical and unyielding to things of the rural folks but now want people to endorse them.”
Igwe disclosed that the party members have shown to such fairweather politicians to simple and down-to-earth ones like Dr Alex Obiogbolu, Walter Ubaka Okeke and Senator Emmanuel Anosike who have toured the whole state repeatedly.
He therefore pointed out that any consensus candidate selection will not be acceptable to the electorate as they were now ready to have a showdown with the ‘Abuja politicians’, if that will drive the point home.
The state chairman of the party, Emeakayi also reaffirmed that no aspirant will given undue advantage over others. That there will be a level playing ground and equal opportunity for all.
PDP has fixed Aug 24, 2013 for its governorship election primaries in Anambra, while the All Progressives grand Alliance (APGA) has fixed theirs for Aug 30, 2013.
