Anambra 2021: PDP assures of transparent primaries

You can no longer intimidate us with Security agents, Courts — Chief Odefa to APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has pledged to conduct credible and transparent primaries to choose a candidate for the Nov. 6 Anambra governorship election.

Chief Ali Odefa, PDP National Vice Chairman (South East) made the declaration on Monday in Abakaliki during the party’s stakeholders meeting in the state.

Odefa said that he recently addressed the governorship aspirants and admonished them to approach the grassroots for support.

“I told them that they are rich and are all billionaires but money is not the issue presently.

“I told them to keep money aside as the party is more interested in reclaiming power in the state,” he said.

The PDP South East Vice Chairman said that the same measure would be applied for aspirants for elective positions in Ebonyi and other states in the zone.

“We would offer level a playing –ground to all contestants as there would no form of favoritism.

“The people would choose their candidates and aspirants should jettison the idea of meeting party leaders for favour,” he said.

He said that the party was not in dispute with any party in Ebonyi but was re-strategising to reclaim power in the state.

“I urge members to be focused and courageous as they would not be intimidated by security agencies or other categories of persons,” he said.

He said the party would resist every intimidation from APC, maintaining that the era of using security agents and every other means including the courts to intimidate them is over.

This was in light of the defection of its dissolved SWC to the All Progressives Congress(APC).

Chief Odefa said that the South East is completely PDP and that the victory of the party at the just concluded Aba North/South federal constituency by-election is  a confirmation of that.

“As you know, South East is PDP. The only Governor they have in South East was stolen from the backyard; in Imo, they used court to steal that one from us. Of course, Ebonyi, only him defected. So, our party is on ground.

“The era of intimidation is gone. Police cannot intimidate us, they cannot use SSS against us, they will not use the court against us. We will resist all these their dictatorial tendencies and they are already tired. We will continue to uphold the principles and core values of our party, don’t be afraid.

“We are not in a shouting match, it is those people that are talking, they are shouting.  We are on the drawing board; we are planning, we are calculating, we are reaching out to people and the result is what you just saw that happened in Aba, Abia State  on Saturday. Politics is not shout shout, talk talk. We are not noise makers, we are focused.

“Haven’t you seen now that the people who were originally not part of us have left? We are all happier together now. The embittered ones have left our party now and we now know how many we are and the party is happier and we move forward.

“Everybody here, I can assure you, are the people that can win elections in their places. You cannot go to Ivo local government where Senator Anyim Pius Anyim is from and you will say you will win there. In Onicha local government, we are there in Onicha local government, Hon. Linus is from  Onicha local government, Ifeanyi Chuks is from Onicha local government. It is simple Mathematics. Politics is not shouting; I will crush you, I will grind you. No, we have gone beyond that era.

“I want to encourage you, do not be intimidated. Ali cannot come back to Abakaliki, Ali cannot come back to Abakaliki, is this not Ali? I am the supreme leader of  pepper them gang, they can’t do anything. Do not be afraid, call your meetings, mobilize your people, call your meetings, secure your meetings, they won’t do nothing, they are frustrated, they are on their way to APGA. One advantage you have over them is that in our party, we will democratize the process of primaries in our own party. Everybody will have level playing field   to contest our  primaries,” he told the members.

Chief Fred Udogu, the party’s Caretaker Chairman in Ebonyi commended the party faithful for their steadfastness, assuring that it was time to reap the dividends of their labour.

Udogu implored the concerned authorities to give the party access to its state secretariat with the defection of the factional chairman to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“We also urge the state government to immediately halt the spate of violence in the state as the situation is becoming worrisome,” he said.

Our Correspondent reports that the meeting was attended by party’s stakeholders such as former Senate President, Chief Pius Anyim, former Gov. Sam Egwu, serving national and state assembly members among others.

Our Correspondent further reports that the party has been factionalised in the state following Gov. David Umahi’s defection to the APC.