Monday, 2 September 2013

Anambra: Tukur, aspirants on warpath


BAMANGA TUKUR
PDP CHAIRMAN, CHIEF BAMANGA TUKUR
As the controversy over the parallel state congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, which produced two governorship candidates, rages, National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, is in the eye of the storm.Daily Sun gathered that Tukur was under attack last week, at a dinner he hosted for the governorship aspirants in Anambra, aimed at amicable resolution of the crisis.
Sources revealed that at the dinner, in Abuja, PDP aspirants accused Tukur of favouritism, at a time when there’s contention over the outcome of the primaries held by the Emeakayi faction of the state PDP, which produced Chief Tony Nwoye, and the Ejike Oguebego faction that produced Senator Andy Uba.
It was gathered that at the dinner, which had 13 aspirants, other dignitaries such as Prince Chibudom Nwuche, Acting Deputy National Chairman, Senator Margery Okadigbo, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, former governor and Prof. ABC Nwosu, were in attendance.
Sources revealed that the Anambra aspirants expressed reservations that Tukur had hurriedly forwarded Nwoye’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when there are outstanding issues about his nomination.
The aspirants were said to have cited the various cases in courts, including the injunction obtained by Mr. Nicholas Ukachukwu from the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt barring Tukur and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) from recognising Nwoye as party’s candidate for the Anambra election.
It was gathered that the aspirants told Tukur that the first step to peaceful resolution of the matter was either withdrawal or vacation of the court cases.
Daily Sun gathered that the aspirants’ position angered Tukur, who reportedly left the dinner. He was said to have been infuriated by accusation of complicity in the crisis rocking the party in Anambra State.
Sources said that Tukur was angered over the accusation that he’s favouring Nwoye, who is alleged to be sponsored by Chief Arthur Eze.
The aspirants had stated that Nwoye’s tax clearance issue has not been resolved, which they claimed came up during the screening process.
Meanwhile, the aspirants are pressing for the cancellation of the primaries that produced Nwoye and his disqualification. They also proposed that President Goodkuck Jonathan, in liaison with the NWC, picked a candidate from among the aspirants as the candidate.
Daily Sun gathered that the aspirants say that either of the two options will put PDP in reckoning in the November 16 elections.
On the second option, they wants somebody with grassroots support, who would win the election so as not to allow opposition parties, especially the newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC) to take over the control of the state government.

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