Anambra 2014:Plans for PDP consensus Candidate as Party crisis unsettles Jonathan, Tukur

…Plans consensus option

By RAZAQ BAMIDELE

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is determined to win the coming governorship election in Anambra State, Daily Sun can report authoritatively that the crisis rocking the party in the state is unsettling the presidency as well as the national headquarters of the party.

Against this background, Daily Sun gathered that the presidency and the party’s national secretariat were contemplating an intervention that would lead to picking a consensus candidate acceptable to all the factions with a view to avoiding rocking the boat that could cost PDP the state.

Right now, at least, three factions were said to exist in Anambra State, each of which had one court injunction or the other to flash at anybody doubting its claim to leadership of the party in the state. Notable factions, according to checks by Daily Sun, are Ken Emeakayi faction, Obi Okoye faction and Benji Udeozo faction.

Although Ken Emeakayi appeares to have upper hand as he occupies the state secretariat of the party, the fears of both the presidency and the PDP under the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, are that other factions may throw spanners in the work of the party during the primaries with frivolous court injunctions.

A Lagos-based chieftain of the Anambra State chapter of the party told Daily Sun in confidence yesterday that “the presidency’s fear is borne out of the tremendous influence and popularity of aspirants of the All Progressives Party (APC), Senator Chris Ngige and the Labour Party (LP), Chief Ifeanyi Uba.”

According to him, Anambra State was there for grab for any serious political party, disclosing that “what we are hearing is that President Goodluck Jonathan may advise the Bamanga Tukur-led executive committee to chart a middle course in Anambra State with a view to arriving at a consensus candidate from among the over 20 aspirants that will be acceptable to all the warring factions.”

The PDP’s blood pressure was said to have risen to a boiling point when the Capital Oil boss, Ifeanyi Uba, picked LP governorship form last week, a development that was said to have further put the PDP on edge. With the present situation in Anambra State, a green horn and underdog might eventually emerge as PDP governorship candidate in Anambra State.