Crisis is currently brewing in the Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the decision by the party to nominate the former Governor of the state, Peter Obi, for a ministerial position to represent the state in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Ms. Stella Oduah, who represented the state in the council, was dropped recently.
Since then, nobody has been nominated to fill the vacancy.
It was gathered by THISDAY that members of the party in the state are divided over the choice of Oduah’s replacement.
THISDAY gathered that the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party, after its 98th meeting, recommended Obi as a possible ministerial nominee who would represent the state in the federal cabinet.
The argument proffered by the SWC in a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan was that the choice of Obi was because of his “popularity and acceptability.”
The letter signed by the state chairman of the party, Ken Emeakayi and secretary, Mike Akubude, expressed the hope that even though Obi is the member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), “the former governor who will automatically become a member of PDP if and when appointed, is best positioned to galvanise all the interest groups, the people of the state and the South-east zone towards the forthcoming presidential election.”
The recommendation is creating bad blood in the state as some party members considered it strange that the leadership of the party in the state could not find any member of PDP qualified and capable to fill the slot.
In a petition to the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) by a Concerned PDP Faithful in the state, the group accused Emeakayi of anti-party activities for “his unilateral nomination of a non-party member.”
The petition signed by Chief Mike Okeke further argued that it is “more reprehensible when reasoned against the backdrop that there are very highly qualified and loyal PDP members in the state who can fit into the position of a minister…”
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, who is also leader of PDP in Anambra State, was not available for comment as he was said to be out of the country.
The state chairman of the PDP in Anambra State confirmed to THISDAY that, the party’s recommendation, stating that those protesting the nomination of Obi were not members of the PDP.
Source: Thisday
