By Henry Umoru
Rising from its National Working Committee, NWC, meeting yesterday, the national leadership of the PDP also warned all the zonal and state executives to jettison the idea of having any anointed candidate ahead of the November 29 Governorship Primary election when governorship candidates would emerge.
It will be recalled that there have been reports of full or indirect endorsement of candidates by the PDP governors. In Enugu State, member representing Udenu/ Igboeze-North in the Federal House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was endorsed by Governor Sullivan Chime as his possible successor.
Also in Akwa Ibom State, Governor Godswill Akpabio was said to have settled for the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, while Martins Elechi of Ebonyi State endorsed the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu. In Delta State, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was said to be backing Anthony Chucks Obuh while the Minister of State, Education, Nyesom Wike has the backing of the Rivers State chapter of PDP.
A statement signed, yesterday, by PDP National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo read: “The National Working Committee (NWC) at its meeting today, Thursday, October 9, 2014 noted that some elected officers of our great Party at the state level have continued to engage in processes aimed at endorsing candidates for the 2015 general elections despite warnings from the national leadership that they, as unbiased umpires, should not be involved in such.
“The NWC strongly frowns at this development and issues this as a final warning to all elected party officials and chapters at all levels, and shall not hesitate to sanction such erring officers or chapters.
“The sanctity of our nomination processes must be protected at all times. We, therefore, wish to assure all party members that there shall be a level playing field for all aspirants intending to participate in the nomination processes.
“Consequently, the NWC will not hesitate to protect any of our members who in any way stands to be shortchanged, cheated or victimized by such endorsements.
“The NWC charges all our members and supporters to disregard all such endorsements as the PDP will conduct primaries to duly elect our flag bearers in line with provisions of the Electoral Act and the constitution of our great party.”
