Anambra : 36 aspirants make volte-face, back Soludo
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — IN a dramatic twist, yesterday, 36 of the 47 aspirants who contested the primaries of the Anambra State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the February 6, 2010 gubernatorial election, have agreed to work with the ex-governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Chukwuma Soludo, as the party’s flagbearer in the election.
On Monday, 23 of the aspirants had rejected the choice of Soludo as the party’s candidate, claiming that the choice was a product of an illegitimate process.
But, leading the 36 aspirants, Anambra PDP Stakeholders, members of the National Assembly from the state and former chairmen of the party to the National Secretariat and addressing members of the National Working Committee (NWC), the party’s National Vice-Chairman, South-East, Chief Olisah Metuh, said they were at the secretariat to brief the Prince Vincent Ogbulafor-led NWC of the outcome of the meeting that was held where the 36 aspirants agreed to support and work with Soludo to ensure that PDP wins the election.
Metuh, who noted that the party in the state has begun the reconciliatory process as part of moves to bring everyone on board, said it is also aimed at rebuilding the PDP in Anambra State, adding that a reconciliatory committee has been set up.
Also speaking at the event at the Wadata Plaza, headquarters of the party, Senator Onyeabor Obi, who noted that members of the party had in the past couple of weeks followed political developments in the state, described what happened and the choice of Soludo as the wish of God.
Presenting the position of the nine House of Representatives Members in the National Assembly, Mr. C.I.D. Maduabum, said, “We in the House of Representatives from Anambra State have met and passed a resolution to support the decision of the party. We feel that Soludo can unite the party in the state, can unite the people.
Responding, PDP National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, who urged all the aspirants to support Soludo if the party must win the state, stressed the need for all hands to be on deck, adding that everything must be done to reach out to others and those who are presently not with them will join later.
