Okonkwo rejects Anambra PDP governorship primary results

The post-primary crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State escalated yesterday as governorship aspirants, Dr Obiora Okonkwo, rejected the outcome of the shadow poll.

He said the results of the exercise were faulty and questionable.

Okonkwo, a businessman, said in a statement that he would make his next action known to his supporters soon.

The aspirant alleged discrepancies in the primary, claiming that the list used by the National Working Committee (NWC) was changed at will without any explanation while many statutory delegates were dropped

The party held two parallel primaries on June 26 at different locations. The parallel primaries produced two candidates — Mr Valentine Ozigbo and Dr Ugochukwu Uba.

Okonkwo said: "As you know, on Saturday, June 26 2021, our party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), conducted a primary election to pick a candidate for the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra State.

“We went into the election full of hope and expectation. Our hope was that our party, the PDP, and members of our party will conduct themselves in a manner that will prove that we are ready to do the right thing, devoid of subterfuge.

“Our expectation was that the wishes of the people would be allowed to prevail. From the result announced by the committee led by His Excellency, Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State, it is obvious that the outcome of that exercise did not reflect our wishes and desires.

“Obviously, there were a number of serious issues and irregularities regarding the primary election and in the process disenfranchised its statutory delegates who are the soul of PDP in Anambra state and who have been working

“However, there was a court judgement and order validating the Ndubuisi Nwobu-led executive which the party ought to have upheld and respected as the first in time.

“The National Working Committee of the party decided, at the last minute, to limit the voting to a small number of super delegates. Even with that, the list of the super delegates kept changing such that voting was unduly delayed after the first round of accreditation where 179 super delegates had been accredited.”

He added: “There were no explanations on why this should happen. The second round of accreditation, done after the list had been changed again and many super delegates removed from the initial list, and many new ones added, turned in 218 super delegates.

“Again, there were no explanations about the increase. There also were no explanations of the criteria used to exclude some hitherto approved super delegates while adding new ones, some of who are not eligible under the party’s constitution. This prompted my question on the discrepancy which is yet to be answered.”

Okonkwo urged his supporters to remain calm, saying that God will have  the final say

He added: “It’s been more than a week since the primary election was conducted; a period we have used for sober reflection and deep introspection about the process which also enabled us to consult widely with our teeming supporters, associates and critical stakeholders.

“We plead for your patience and understanding as that consultation will continue, for at least another week, after which we will make our position clear with respect to the event of June 26.

“We solemnly assure that our decision, when it is made, will be based on principle and in the best interest of our people who have always been the driving inspiration of our project- Maka Ilu Olu Oma (doing the good work).

“As I said repeatedly during our outreaches across the 21 local government areas of our dear state, my aspiration for the governorship of Anambra State has never been about power or the quest for material wealth for which the Almighty has been very kind to me.

"I started this journey with you. We have fought several battles to keep the party united and respect your offices. They are not over yet. It is not yet time to drop the anchor. We shall sail together.”