PDP may pick compromise candidate for Anambra election
THERE are strong indications that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may substitute the name of Nicholas Ukachukwu with that of a compromise governorship candidate for the November 16 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, to extricate the party from various litigations hindering its participation in the election.
Meanwhile, the free medical treatment and mass transit programmes of the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, has expanded in scope and quality, just as other parties' candidates also fine-tune their strategies to gain mass support.
It was gathered that already, the PDP's strategy has driven other political parties that wanted to reap from the PDP crisis, especially the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA), into panic.
Sources within the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP disclosed that the party resolved to select a compromise governorship candidate from Anambra-North senatorial zone to wriggle out of the divisive and time-wasting litigations in court. The Appeal Court, Port Harcourt Division, had last Tuesday adjourned sine die ruling on the appeal filed by Nwoye.
'The party was moved by the divisive impact of the litigations in court and the fact that the election is just six weeks away. Its plan is to sideline the three claimants, Senator Andy Uba, Ukachukwu and Nwoye, to settle for a less controversial candidate from Anambra-North senatorial zone to fly the party's flag,' the source, who pleaded not to be named, stated.
Though he revealed that the name of the lucky candidate is being kept in wraps because of the sensitive nature of the arrangement, the source explained that the new candidate, a constitutional lawyer, hails from the neighbouring community to that of the APGA candidate, Mr. Willie Obiano.
'As we speak, the NWC has finalised plans to send the name of the compromise governorship candidate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) any moment from now to substitute the name of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu.'
The Labour Party's mass transit vehicles, according to an Assistant Director in the Ifeanyi Ubah Campaign Organisation, Maduka Okoye, is meant to transport Anambra citizens to the various communities across the state at no cost irrespective of gender, class or political leaning.
He said the policy has become so popular and widely commended by the public, including community and religious leaders, adding that it was an indication of how pro-active his principal is.
Okoye noted that the scheme is really alleviating the suffering of the people who now pray daily and fervently for Ubah's victory in the November 16 election. He further noted that the feedback from the public indicated that residents now travel to any part of the state at their own convenience with little or no financial stress over fares.
According to him, the scheme came at a time when other candidates in the governorship race were busy promising the people heaven on earth and doling out outlandish public funds that would have served better purposes to the citizens if committed to worthy projects.
'This free mass transit is a sign of good things to come if Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah makes it to Awka Government House. This development is an indication that as the governor, he would set up a comprehensive mass transit that will effectively take care of the transportation need of our people, nay Nigerians'.
A beneficiary, Mr. Austine Madu, a native of Agulu in Anaocha Local Council, who claimed to have, on more than one occasion, boarded the Ubah vehicle from Awka to Agulu, was full of praises for the Labour Party's candidate for displaying a good understanding of the peculiar needs of the Anambra people who are always on the move because of their trading activities.
THE GUARDIAN