Former governor of Anambra State Chris Ngige

It's zero hour for ruling party

By Alex Emeje

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will, on Friday, hold a crucial meeting with leaders of the party from Anambra State to decide on a consensus candidate for the party in next year's governorship election in the state.

The meeting, according to officials of the party, is important as the party has to decide how to meet the deadline of the Independent National Electoral Commission on submission of candidate's name.

Other parties have already named their candidates for the election. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has picked the incumbent governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, as its candidate while the Action Congress has named former governor, Chris Ngige, as its candidate. The Labour Party has nominated Mike Areh, while the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) named Bright Unekwe as its candidate.

The deadline for the submission of candidates by all parties to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is 11.59pm Friday.

Two previous attempts made by the PDP to vacate a court injunction restraining it from conducting its primaries in the state had failed.

The statement announcing Friday's meeting, which was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Rufai Ahmed Alkali, said 20 officers of the party have been invited for the meeting.

Invited members

They include the acting Anambra State PDP chairman; members of the state executive committee of the PDP; national vice chairman, South East of the party; senators from the state; members of the House of Representatives from the state; members of the Anambra State House of Assembly who are belong to the PDP; the Minister of Information and Communication; members of the PDP board of trustees from Anambra State; national and zonal committee members from the state.

Others are chairmen of boards of parastatals from Anambra State who are PDP members; special advisers to the president and vice president from Anambra State, who are PDP members; the Nigerian Ambassador to Austria; former governors and deputy governors who are still members of the PDP; former speakers and deputy speakers of the Anambra State House of Assembly who are still PDP members; former members of the Anambra State working committee who are still PDP members; local government PDP chairmen, secretaries, treasurers, women leaders and youth leaders.

The NWC of the party has held hours of meetings every day since Monday before they were be able to arrive at the decision, a source said.

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Reader Comments (8)

Posted by Austin on Oct 09 2009

what ever inec is doing in Anambra State, they should know that Chris Ngige is our governor for 2010 if they like this time, they can go again and remove AC LOGO from gonernorship ballot paper. I only believe on what am seeing bcos seeing is believing. NGIGE has something special for Anambra State, So why don't you people leave NGIGE for us alone.

Posted by igwe czar on Oct 09 2009

@Austin i hope the something special has nothing to do with him dancing naked in okija shrine?

Posted by Chuks on Oct 09 2009

Austin, why not let the electorate decide the fate of Ngige ? As for the election that brought him to power, remember he came through the back door, too his so called godfathers worked against him when it matters most at the tribunal. So let him face the battle once again, perhaps,he could win if God so wishes. Stop blaming his woes on INEC, rather you should be thankful to them for aiding him to the top sit. Thank you.

Posted by mad nigerian on Oct 09 2009

If you ask me,the problem with the whole Anambra state issue is a case of win by force.Al Gore was probably cheated out of the U.S.presidency.Did he go to war about it? NO.

Posted by shapiro on Oct 10 2009

By selecting Soludo despite the rot now uncovered in the Banking sector where he super intended and in proper sane climes he should be riling in shame and most answer questions the ruling party is falling head over shoulders to nominate him as Governor since he has amassed money by compromising his position and to them the end justifies the means i am sorry for Nigeria under the contraption called PDP a congregation of fools and rogues.

Posted by TrustyKonny on Oct 10 2009

Please check articles for errors. 'Who are belong to' makes no sense. Thanks.

Posted by FADUMIYE ADEYINKA on Oct 10 2009

The free for all saga that erupted the PDP secretariat in Abuja over the party flagbearer in 2010 gubernatorial election has further demonstrated that the Pdp belongs to rogues and political thugs.Also I wish to condem the pdp position over the neglect of party candidate in the 2007 governorship election in Anambra state Mr Andy Uba.I'am sure that by the grace of God,the force of progress and light triumph over those darkness because the appallate court sitting in Enugu would reinstate Andy Uba as the duly elected governor in the 2007 governorship election.However,as the glorious dawn is around the corner Soludo and his cohorts and clowns would cover their ugly face in shame.I urged the EFCC to start probing the four years unproductive tenure of Soludo as the central Bank governor.

Posted by Ike on Oct 11 2009

PDP keeps exhibiting there inability to lead this country to the promised land. They cannot even decide on, or elect a candidate for the Gubernatorial elections in February, 2010. Through some voodoo method they have chosen Soludo who has questions to answer on his handling of the economy at Central Bank and allegations of corruption on the polymer notes contract. Is he fit and proper to lead Anambra State? I believe that it eill be a contest between Ngige and Obi. God be with us in Anambra State.