Pdp, Others Move To Sabotage Dora’s Senatorial Ambition

There appears a consortium of plots of sabotage brewing inside the Wadata Plaza offices of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] against the senatorial candidacy of Prof Dorothy Nkem Akunyili under the All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA] platform.

Yesterday, Akunyili resigned from the Jonathan team and declared her interest to join the senatorial race under APGA.

Ukpakareports.com has it on good authority that the members of the National Executive Council of the PDP are set to lay siege to the senatorial ambition.

Information gathered through a source in the office of the PDP National Public Relations Officer [PRO] revealed to our correspondent that the PRO is not a fan of Akunyili and considers her “a cantankerous woman” that has no business in National politics. The source indicates that the PDP PRO played an integral part in frustrating Akunyili's attempt to pursue her ambition in PDP jersey. Akunyili had attempted to contest the senatorial race under the PDP platform but it failed largely due to reservations on the part of PDP and the Jonathan team.

Our source reveals that the PDP has set up a media blackmail campaign against Akunyili starting from Monday December 21st 2010. The PDP campaign will aim to cast Akunyili in the light of “a greedy opportunist, a quarrelsome woman, money hungry and corrupt and a backstabber”. Indications are that Senator Annie Okonkwo, the Senator representing the Anambra Central District, will work in partnership with the PDP machinery.

Outright, it is evident top PDP members are angry at Akunyili for abandoning the party. Akunyili had used the goodwill of a PDP led government to rise to acclaim - to a Ministerial position and abandoned it. The PDP bigwigs vow to stop her in Anambra. Among the many of the vows is that of Hon. Gozie Agbakoba [a member of the house of representative, Anambra] who told ukpakareports.com in a telephone conversation that “Dora will lose. Why did she not come to the PDP to pick Senatorial forms? You need to ask her. She knows why? She will be exposed. I cannot see a victory here. She has nothing on the ground in Anambra politically. How would she win? ”

Another take from a top member of the National Working Committee of the PDP in Abuja paints an even more discoloring picture. He says “she has long been a self-centered, self-aggrandizing, self-conceited megalomaniac. She believes that it will be just and equitable to cede all political power positions in Anambra State to Agulu and Anaocha Local Government. Delusion and gross insensitivity has been and will remain her trademark. Recount what she did with Engr Ernest Ndukwe then the NCC or what she did with Soludo during the burial of his mother in-law.” The PDP “will work to stop Akunyili” he added.

Nonetheless, not all appears bad for Akunyili, the former governor of Anambra State and an indigene of the Anambra Central District, Dr. Chris Ngige gave a hearty welcome to Akunyili's ambition. Ngige, through the telephone told ukpakareports.com that “she's very much welcome into partisan political arenas. When she declares or expresses interest in an elective position, we'll comment fully especially on her suitability for the post she's vying for.” Ngige who is presently engulfed in a gubernatorial election tribunal battle against the Governor of Anambra, Peter Obi is reportedly considering a run for the same senatorial seat. Ngige is a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN].

Comforting to Akunyili are members of her new party who have received the news of her entrance with wide arms. Senator Joy Emordi who decamped recently to APGA from PDP, and presently running for the senatorial seat for the Anambra northern district, told our correspondent that “she is welcomed to active politics”. Similar sentiment is shared by a former PDP legislator Hon. Uche Ekwunife who recently decamped from the PDP to APGA, and is presently running for a seat in the House of Representative in Anambra. Through her media director, Clement Aguiyi, she told ukpakareports.com that “Dora is saleable material. She will be a strong voice and worthy representative. She stands a good chance.”