By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would have performed better in the just concluded Anambra governorship election where certain things taken into consideration and others done differently at the national and party levels.
The crisis that erupted in the People Democratic Party (PDP) occasioned by the assumption into office of Ali Modu Sheriff, in February 2016 as the acting National Chairman of the party took a toll on the smooth running of the party even beyond his tenure. The ensued internal strife tearing the PDP apart continued to take different twists and turns and requires time to out rightly heal.
The Anambra gubernatorial election was not an exception. The protracted leadership tussle in the party created some uncertainties that the short period between the Supreme Court fixed date for the determination of the authentic national chairman and date of Anambra governorship election, led to the exit of some staunch members of the party- the likes of Chief Osita Chidoka. Political pundits are of the view that had Chidoka remained in the party, his emergence or otherwise would have still leave keep the goodwill of the party intact and would have been a plus to the party. He would not have left the party as the time he left.
Also the alleged non-transparency in the election delegates is another factor. There are suggestions that the party’s primary was not transparent as the delegates list used for the primary election was different from the certified true copy of the delegates list obtained from the independent National Electoral Commisssion (INEC). This constitutes largely why Chief Ifeanyi Uba frowned at the process and proceeded to court.
Similarly, some party members are aggrieved that the party’s flagbearer for the November 18 governorship election, Mr. Oseloka Obaze was in the first instance not qualified to contest the election as he was only granted a provisional waiver as at the time of the primary.
Recall that former minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, Linda Ikpeazu and John Emeka had before the commencement of accreditation of delegates withdrawn from the exercise.
While announcing his withdrawal from the contest, Emeka cited irregularities in the party’s delegates’ list.
The withdrawal of these stakeholders of the party may have created apathy for them and their supporters to genuinely come out and vote in support of the peoples’ Democratic Party at the governorship election.