Bitter wrangling and protests have continued to trail the just concluded state constituency primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra state, with some named female Senatorial seat hopefuls being fingered in Anambra North and Central in the debacle respectively.
While a Iyom Uche Ekwunife a top contender in the Anambra Central senatorial zone was accused of a card carrying member of All Progressives Grand Alliance-Maureen Okeke-Nta who never bought forms nor passed through screening allegedly on the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) against Marcavelli Okafor who won landslide in a open primary in Njikoka state constituency, Princess Stella Oduah who is standing for Anambra North Senatorial zone was accused of allegedly also subverting the peoples wish in Ogbaru 2 state constituency. That Oduah allegedly cause the name of Patrick Afuberah and put in that of a person who was not in the country and has no interest to contest.
Comrade Patrick Afuberoh according to a group called Ogbaru League of Comrades in Conjunction with Ogbaru Progressive Youth Vanguard In a protest letter copy of which was provided to journalists in Awka yesterday noted that Afuberoh “remains the only aspirant that bought the PDP state House of Assembly nomination form as at the expiration date of sales of forms and was subsequently the only person screened and cleared for Ogbaru 2 Constituency and thus was nominated as unopposed candidate.
“That we will resist through every peaceful and legal means any attempt to impose, substitute or compel the above mentioned comrade to back out under duress or any other form of intimidation.
“That in cognisance of President Godluck Jonathan transformstion agenda as regards youths participation in governance, we demand that Comrade Pstrick ?fuberoh be given a chance to seek to provide credible and vibrant representation to ogbaru people in particular and Anambra stste in general.
“That Ogbaru 11 cinstituency has been poorly represented at the state level since 1999, hence we state that a youth be given a chance to represent Ogbaru 11 constituency because he knows the problem and aspirations of the youths which constitute more than 65 percent of the electorate in ogbaru 11 constituency.
“We enjoin the teaming youths of anambra north to participate actively in the electoral process and to shun any form of violence and thuggery.”
In his petition to the party though the State Assembly Appeal panel led by Chief Kayode Giwa-Amun with Awwal Baba Jada and Godwin Uzoma Agu as members, Afubera insisted that it would be a travesty of justice of the worst form if one Odebe Nwanwuna, who neither bought the nomination form nor expressed any form of interest in running for the office of state Assembly in Ogbaru 2 state constituency would be used to edge him out by Princess Oduah.
He accused Oduah of unilaterally trying to subvert the wish of the masses who willingly nominated him to run for the seat and represent them.
yahoo.com
Some non-governmental organizations(NGO), Ogbaru League of Comrades, a coalition of past and present student leaders and activists from Ogbaru, while the Ogbaru Progressive Youth Vanguard, an umbrella body of all the progressive youths of Ogbaru, in their submission presented to journalists by Iyke Uyanne and Nonso Ugboma noted, “We have been following, with keen interest, the processes and build-up to the forthcoming 2015 general elections as it affects Ogbaru, particularly the office of the State House of Assembly member for Ogbaru 2 constituency, for which one of us, Comrade Patrick Afubera, is contesting under the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
“There was heavy celebration among the youths of Ogbaru when, on Friday 7th November, Comrade Afubera returned from the Screening as the the only PDP Aspirant for Ogbaru 2 constituency for the State Assembly Primary, hence he was standing unopposed.
“Unfortunately however, few days later, we heard that one Chief Odebe Nwanwuna has been sponsored by our own highly respected sister, Princess Stella Oduah, to buy PDP nomination form for the the same State Assembly election even when the deadline for purchase and submission of forms has passed, as such, the said Chief Odebe was not screened by the party. We have been praying with our Comrade and preparing how to petition the appropriate party authorities regarding the late entry aspirant, but God in his infinite mercies intervened on our behalf, to the effect that, on the day of the PDP State Assembly primaries, 29th November, 2014, when the names of Aspirants cleared by the party to contest the primary in each constituency were called, only the name of Comrade Patrick Afubera was called for Ogbaru 2 constituency, hence he was declared unopposed.
“We were however, surprised to hear that our own sister, Princess Stella Oduah, in collaboration with her agent, Afam Odogwu, a known motor park tout, hijacked the returning officer and conducted a kangaroo primary in an unknown destination and returned the same Chief Odebe Nwanwuna whose name was not in the ballot and who was not screened by the party let alone being cleared to contest.
They therefore “demand the immediate reinstatement and return of our colleague, Comrade Patrick Afubera, as the duly nominated candidate of the PDP for the forthcoming State House of assembly election for Ogbaru 2 constituency. We also call on our sister, Princess Stella Oduah, to reverse her actions and ensure that the right thing is done or incur the wrath of Ogbaru youths and indeed the wrath of the generality of the students and youths of Anambra North”.
They suspected the move could be a secret but subtle ploy to impose a very weak, unknown and unpopular candidate on the party so that an opposition party would trounce PDP.
Source: From Chuks Collins, Awka
