The Peoples Democratic Party finds itself presently enmeshed in turmoil generated from the ill feted primary election held in Awka to select the party’s gubernatorial candidate. Information available to 247ureports.com obtained from competent sources indicate the PDP in Anambra may play “dead” against the November 18, 2017 gubernatorial election. This is as aggrieved gubernatorial aspirants who believed the primary election was rigged have opted to desert the candidacy of Oseloka Obaze for candidates in other parties.
Loading ...Top on the list of PDP chieftains who have abandoned the PDP gubernatorial candidate is the oil mogul billionaire and politician, Chief Ifeanyi Patrick Uba. He had participated in the primary election for the gubernatorial ticket but was manipulated out of the process allegedly by the handlers of the PDP primary election. The delegate list were supposedly doctored through the influence of a former governor from Anambra State, Chief Peter Obi – who according to sources utilized his closeness to the former President of the federal republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to influence the PDP governor’s forum into aligning with the Peter Obi project of installing Oseloka Obaze – “by hook or by crook”.
Yesterday, September 22, 2017, Chief Ifeanyi Uba was visited at his Nnewi home by top chieftains of the All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA] which included the former national chairman and chairman of Obiano campaign team, Chief Victor Umeh, the national chairman of the APGA, Dr. Victor Oye and others. Today, September 23, 2017, Chief Ifeanyi Uba will be visited by a delegation from the All Progressive Congress [APC] at his Nnewi home.
Both the APGA and APC delegation had come selling their respective parties to the oil billionaire who was recently suspended from the PDP for speaking up against the manipulation that occurred at the primary election.
The oil billionaire is reported to be welcoming of the prospect of joining one of the two parties but he told 247ureports.com that he has not made up his mind. He added that he has not made up his mind over abandoning the PDP completely. “If the PDP decides to change their ways and abandon their ills, I will definitely support the PDP in November”. The oil billionaire noted he will make public his decision following today’s visit by the APC team.
Also, along with Chief Ifeanyi Uba, other aggrieved PDP chieftains have opened talks with candidates of other parties. Talking to 247ureports.com, an aggrieved aspirant who pleaded anonymity reveal that virtually the entire PDP bigwigs in the State have abandoned the candidacy of Oseloka Obaze. He explained the cause for abandonment to lie with Peter Obi’s sudden imposition of Oseloka Obaze – and his inability to reach resolution with aggrieved aspirant on lingering issues.
It is recalled that Ifeanyi Uba had contributed immensely towards the re-election campaign of the former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan through the TAN movement singlehandedly financed by him. Through his efforts, it was accepted he was a player within the PDP. Or, so he thought.
One of the aggrieved aspirants told 247ureports.com that Peter Obi paid visits to all the aggrieved aspirants. “But he came and discussed nothing. He just came and ate and drink and left”. In one instance when he visited the home of Ifeanyi Uba to reach an understanding. Throughout his stay, Peter Obi was busy faced down fiddling with his phone. It got to a point where Ifeanyi Uba had to interrupt the talks and asked Peter Obi if he was not interested in the talks – to up and leave his house.
Some of the foundation members are reported to be unsettled with the actions of the former governor. Our sources reveal ongoing meetings among PDP bigwigs from across the senatorial districts in Anambra being held at the respective homes of PDP chieftains and godfathers – with the principal objective of curtailing the excesses of the Peter Obi led insurrection.
In talking to the national chairman of the party, Senator Makarfi concerning the impending exist of the oil billionaire, Ifeanyi Uba from the party to other parties, he discounted it saying “he is free to decide his political fortunes. We believe he is working for them anyway. Many like him in Anambra negotiated something different from what they publicly portray. This has been the case in ‘that State’ since 1999”.
The national chairman continued that “sincerity is scarce. It’s a local and zonal politics at play. At the end PDP may not be that hurt. We put our trust in the wisdom of leaders in that State and zone. At our end, whatever we can do we will continue to do. But we are tasking leaders in the zone to sort out. However we must not tolerate brazen show of indiscipline”.
Already, the former Aviation minister, Madam Stella Odua who was among the aggrieved PDP members who abandoned the PDP primary election owing to the irregularities is said to have begun talks with the APGA leadership and the Obiano administration on the possible decampment from the PDP to APGA. Our source reveals that Stella Odua may have concluded plans on her entry into the APGA. Her announcement may come Monday.
