INEC, PDP may clash over Anambra

INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega
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The Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission may be heading for a collision over the conduct of the Anambra State governorship election.

This is because of the insistence of the PDP that it recognises Mr. Ken Emeakayi as the chairman of its Anambra State chapter whereas INEC says it will only deal with  Mr. Ejike Oguebego.

To show its disapproval, the party did not allow Oguebego inside the reconciliatory meeting the Governor Seriake Dickson-led National Reconciliatory Committee had with leaders of the party in Abuja on Thursday.

But Emeakayi was allowed inside the meeting.

Before leaving office, the former secretary of the electoral commission, Alhaji Abdullahi Kaugama, had in a letter dated July 26, 2013 addressed to the National Chairman of  the PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, said that Oguebego remained the INEC-recognised state chairman.

However, the party said in a statement signed by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Tony Okeke on July 29, that Emeakayi remained the authentic state chairman.

The disagreement notwithstanding, governorship aspirants from the state have started picking nomination forms.

Those who have picked forms are Jerry Ugokwe, Sen. Emma Anosike, Akachukwu Nwamkpo and Ugochukwu Okeke after the payment of the mandatory N5 million nomination fee.

The sale of the governorship forms commenced on Thursday and it is expected that all completed forms must be returned on Monday.

About 30 governorship aspirants have indicated interest to contest the November 16, 2013 governorship election in the state.

Meanwhile, Dickson told journalists after the committee’s meeting with governorship aspirants and stakeholders from the state that PDP was poised to reclaim Anambra State in the forthcoming governorship election.

He said, “One thing is clear, PDP family is united and is determined to reclaim Anambra.

“The PDP is putting its house together so that we can go for the election as members of one family.

“The aspirants have all agreed to sheath their individual differences and had resolved to work together as members of one family to win Anambra State for the PDP in the forthcoming governorship election.”

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