There is a brewing controversy in the ranks of Anambra
State chapters of Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), following the submission of the
same list of candidates to the Independent National Electoral
Commi-ssion (INEC), by the parties' national leadership
in Abuja.
THISDAY checks reveal that at least 12 of the 30 candidates
presented by PDP in Anambra State to INEC are the same candidates
AD told INEC are its flag bearers. While the PDP national
chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, and his national secretary,
Prince Vincent Ogb-ulafor, signed the PDP list for the state,
Alhaji Ahmed Abdu-lkadir and Dr. Chudi Nwike, AD national
chairman and secretary respectively, signed the list from
AD.
In a letter to INEC, dated March 10, 2003, the AD chairman
and secretary informed the commission that the Speaker of
the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Barth Onug-bolu,
would be contestiing the Aniocha I constituency seat on
the AD ticket.
Interestingly, Onugbolu is, according to a list signed
by Ogbeh and Ogbulafor, on Ma-rch 6, 2003, the PDP candidate
for Aniocha II constituency in the same state.
Also listed by AD as its candidate for the Nnewi North/
Nnewi South/Ekwusigo federal constituency seat is Mr. C.I.D.
Mmaduabum, the same person being claimed by PDP as its flagbearer
for the same seat.
Chiefs Chuka Okafor, Jo-seph Okeke, Emma Onyeka, Benneth
Nkememena, who were listed as AD candidates for Awka South
I, Anambra East and West and Ekwusigo constituencies respectively,
were also presented to INEC by PDP.
Other candidates presented by PDP and AD in Anambra to
INEC are Messrs. Vitalis Oka-for (Ihiala I), Ifeanyi nnabuife
(Ihiala II), Maduka Okoye (Nnewi North), Chuks Okoye (Onitsha
North II), Val Elu-siuba and P. I. Egwuonwu (Oyi).
THISDAY gathered that the "confusion" over the
list of candidates may have been triggered by the recent
defection from PDP to AD of the state Governor, Dr. Chinwoke
Mbadinuju, but is generating ripples in both chapters of
the party in the state.
"It goes to show that some people are not alive in
their responsibility. Or else, how does one explain why
two parties in relevant authorities detecting such."
one top politician in the state declared.
