ANAMBRA PRIMARY: REC CLEARS AIR ON AUTHENTIC LIST
The raging controversy as to who were duly elected as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial aspirants in the four Anambra senatorial zones has been put to rest by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state.
Speaking on the Africa Independent Television, AIT news hour, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Chukwuemeka Onakaogu said: 'INEC does not recognize any parallel elections conducted by any group other than the one which was duly supervised by the Benjamin Udeozor Udeozor Panel.
INEC will only recognize elections which were conducted within its set down rules and regulations and not the parallel ones.' With this declaration, the PDP is expected to rectify the names of the successful nominees as the party's flag bearers for the April electionsControversy had trailed the PDP's senatorial primary in the state, following the announcement of results by the INEC Committee headed by Udeozor and two other parallel ones led by Chief Emma Nweze and Senator Joseph Waku.
The list of successful candidates during the primary submitted to INEC by Udeozor had consisted of: Prince John Emeka (North Senatorial District), Dr. Andy Uba (South Senatorial District) and Ogugwe Okoye (Central Senatorial District).
The list submitted by Chief Emeka Nweze had on it Chudi Offordile (Anambra Central), Chief Marjorie Okadigbo (Anambra North) and Dr. Andy Uba (Anambra South).
The Senator Waku list had the names of Senator Annie Okonkwo (Anambra Central), Prince Nicholas Okachukwu (Anambra South) and Mrs Marjorie Okadigbo (Anambra North).
Some members of the state PDP had accused Senator Waku, one of the two panels above which conducted the parallel elections, as not being a member of their party, which is a breach of their party rules.
Many party members are incensed with him over allegations of doing the bidding of those who want President Jonathan to lose in the state.
Leader of the Igbo Leadership Forum (ILF), Dr. Eustace Ejikeme, has carpeted the Waku-led panel, describing its constitution and action 'illegal, ultra vires, null and void.'