Anambra guber: Aspirant kicks against PDP’s N10m form

One of the governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Mr. Nkem Ekweozoh has decried the N10 million price tag placed on the party’s governorship form, describing it as political exploitation of Anambra people.

The Nawfia-born legal practitioner cum politician noted that, “never had such a levy been imposed on aspirants in other parts of the country.” Ekweozoh while speaking to newsmen in Awka yesterday called on Ndi Anambra to rise against such exploitation, like Governor Peter Obi reportedly asked in 2002 when he first ran for the governorship seat, Ekweozoh queried, “Is Anambra cursed or are we the cause?”

He noted that each aspirant in the state had earlier paid N1 million to the party for expression of interest in the election, which had been slated for November 16.

The aspirant, who said he would pick the form on next Monday despite the cost, however, called on the national leadership of the party to adopt the Option A4 open ballot system in the conduct of the primaries.

According to him, the PDP primaries slated for Saturday, August 24 would achieve the desired goal of electing the party’s candidate for the November 16 gubernatorial election, if it was free, fair and transparent.

Ekweozoh noted that the problem of PDP in the past had been the manner in which its candidates were selected, which, to him, had been a kind of imposition, stressing that “when the people file behind the aspirant of their choice, the result will declare itself and the people will be satisfied.

“Nobody will complain if the primaries are transparent because all of us are determined to ensure that the PDP takes over Anambra State in the next election.

“But if the primaries are not transparent, there will be room for litigation, intrigues and acrimony, and you will see those who feel they were cheated working against the party in the main election. This is what I want PDP to avoid in this forthcoming election so that we will reclaim the Anambra Government House.” He however, enjoined all aggrieved members of the party to withdraw their litigations to ensure smooth conduct of the primaries and the governorship election.

“If things are properly done at this stage of the electioneering; nothing would stop PDP from reclaiming the state in the November 16 election,” he said.

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