PDP leaders at war over credibility status of Anambra guber polls

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Anambra gubernatorial elections, Tony Nwoye, Wednesday, condemned the leadership of the party for describing the November 16 elections as credible.

The National Publicity Secretary  of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, on Sunday, had described the election as 'free and fair' . Also, the Anambra State Chairman of the ruling party, Mr. Ken Emeakayi, on Wednesday in Awka, concurred with Metuh in hailing the polling process as unbiased.

Emeakayi had told a news conference that   the  PDP would participate in the supplementary election, which Nwoye is against.

Emeakayi had told the journalists that  the decision to commend and participate in the supplementary election was taken at an emergency meeting of the state working committee of the party.

He said, 'We state categorically and unequivocally that the  PDP will participate in the supplementary election in the contentious areas of the state as announced by INEC(Independent National Electoral Commission), and we charge our members to continue to remain calm and focused.'

He accused the  APC of trying to cause disaffection within the PDP by using some members to make statements that were inimical to the position of the PDP on    the election.

However, Nwoye, along with the All Progressives Congress and Labour Party candidates, Chris Ngige and Ifeanyi Ubah, had called for the cancellation of the elections as they claimed the process was flawed.

Nwoye, through his campaign organization, said he was surprised  'that certain highly placed officers of the party'  could  go to the press to make comments  about the election without consulting  him.

Nwoye also dissociated himself  from the position of the state working committee of the PDP.

At a separate  news conference also on Wednesday,    the Director-General of the   organisation, Mr. Osita Ezenwa,  said, 'The election has been poorly conducted and what remains is for INEC to conduct a fresh election. If we win, fine. If we don't, we will congratulate the winner.'

Ezenwa, in company with Ken Arinze and Clems Ezika, added, 'I don't see why someone should be in a hurry to congratulate INEC or any other person on an election that has not been concluded.'

The organisation later released a statement in which it  condemned  Metuh  for commending the  election without consulting it.

The statement from its    ICT and Communication Unit  was signed by Ikeagwuonwu Chinedu,  Okwu Okwu, Ikechukwu Onyia and Orjika Chidi.

The statement reads in part  , 'It is a common knowledge that the Anambra State  governorship election that held across the state on   November 16, 2013, was  marred by irregularities.

'There has been widespread condemnation of the exercise by members of the civil society groups, Anambrarians,  the Conference of Nigerian Political parties and election observers and monitors.

'Even Prof.  Jega went on air to apologise to Anambrarians on the poor conduct of the election.

'In spite of these flaws and more witnessed during the exercise,   Metuh  went on air to announce that the election  was free and fair

'In a show of shame, Metuh made his statement giving credibility to an election in which his candidate and all his family members,  including some of his cousins were disenfranchised and prevented from voting.'

It wondered why the PDP spokesperson did not contact Nwoye before making  his 'shameful statement.'

The organisation also accused him of   sabotaging the PDP  during the election.