There appears to be a crack in the South East Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as Samuel Anyanwu has been rejected as the consensus candidate for the position of Secretary at the forthcoming National Convention of the party slated for October 30.
Recall that a special committee set up to chart a course for the October National Convention had alloted the post of the National Secretary of the party to South East among other national offices.
It was expected that a consensus candidate would be chosen to be affirmed at the October National Convention but reports indicates that chieftains of the party from the zone have distanced themselves from Mr Anyanwu that was announced to have emerged.
Those opposed to Anyanwu’s emergence are former governors of Anambra and Imo states, Mr Peter Obi and Chief Achike Udenwa and Hon Emeka Ihedioha, among others.
They explained that what transpired at the PDP meeting held on Thursday 14th October at Enugu, hosted by Governor Ugwuanyi, can best be described as a stalemate.
The PDP chieftains, according to a statement on Sunday signed by Chief Madu Chinemerem on their behalf, said, “What transpired at the PDP meeting held on Thursday 14th October at Enugu hosted by Governor Ugwuanyi can best be described as a stalemate.”
Mr Chinemerem, who is the National Ex-Officio from Imo State noted that, “The meeting certainly did not elect Sam daddy Anyanwu to represent the South East as PDP National Secretary.
“Governors Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu came to the meeting and just announced the selection of Sen Anyanwu. Most of the people who attended vehemently objected to it and refused to accept it,” he said.
“The entire Anambra delegation led by Peter Obi rejected it. Imo delegates led by former Governors Emeka Ihedioha and Achike Udenwa also rejected it,” he pointed out.
He explained that some State chairmen also said no, while the meeting ended without any agreement.
“What was most annoying to South East leaders was that Sen Sam daddy Anyanwu is being imposed on them by a governor from South South who nominated him.
“He is forcing down his choice on the governors from the South East , just because he served as his Special Assistant,” he alleged in the statement.
He said further, “The meeting was also attended by former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, Onyema Ugochukwu, Senator Uche Ekwunife, and many others Most of them did not agree with the imposition of Sam daddy Anyanwu as Secretary as he wasn’t a product of the Zone.
“I am very conversant with the everything that transpired at the meeting and I can say without fear of contradiction that what was reported as South East Zone PDP consensus is a figment of the imagination of the author of the Press release. It does not in any way whatsoever, reflect the outcome of the Enugu meeting. It is unfortunate.
“Definitely Anambra and Imo States have better materials for the office if it is zoned to them.”
