By Our Reporters

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) still has a high hurdle to scale ahead the November 16, 2013 Anambra gubernatorial election.  A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State yesterday ruled that Senator Andy Uba remains the PDP candidate for the Anambra gubernatorial race.

It ordered the Ken Emeakayi-led PDP in Anambra state to maintain the status quo pending the final decision of the court. It also ordered that the PDP should recognize the Ejike Oguebego-led faction of the party – as the authentic faction.

In the ruling handed by Justice H.A Nganjiwa, the court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to identify with the Ejike group that produced Uba as the authentic governorship candidate of the PDP.

It’s season of endorsements for candidates
SIXTY-FOUR days to the November 16 governorship election, the Anambra polity is awash with endorsements for the various candidates running the race. It is a season of endorsements, as it were, from hordes of groups cutting across all strata of the polity.

Physically challenged endorse Ifeanyi Ubah: THE Association for Comprehensive Empowerment of Nigerians with Disability, ASCEND, in Anambra State has endorsed Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, for the governorship of the state. The 100,000-member ASCEND took the decision in Awka yesterday during a meeting attended by physically challenged persons from all parts of the state.

President of the association, Chief Cosmas Okoli, who announced the endorsement, said Ifeanyi Ubah was the only candidate that has spelt out in clear terms what he would do for physically challenged people and the entire people of the state if he wins the November 16 election.

He said: “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of persons with disability in Nigeria as we take the first decisive step in the politics of Nigeria, with the endorsement of Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah for governor of Anambra State come 2014.

“We started this journey by announcing our intention to endorse a candidate for the gubernatorial election and we thus opened our doors to all the aspirants to engage with us in the process of endorsing a candidate for the election.

“We make bold to say that no aspirant responded to this overture, except Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, who promptly reached out to us to find out what the issues are and to tell us that even before we announced our intentions, he had sought after our members and invited them to join his campaign organization. “He sought to know the needs of persons with disability and he promptly included them in his manifesto and also pledged to run a transparent and inclusive government that will take Anambra State to the next level.

He came across to us as someone who could be trusted, but because we want to make sure that we endorsed the best candidate, we went ahead to assess all the gubernatorial aspirants to know those who have the capacity to deliver good governance to the people of Anambra State and can ensure that no group or section of the society is left out.”

Anambra technocrats thumbs up Ngige: IN like manner, Shipping, freight-forwarding and allied logistics operators under the auspices of Anambra Maritime Practitioners Association (AMPA) have endorsed Senator Chris Ngige for the position. AMPA National President, Dominic Obi alongside other executives in Lagos, voiced their zeal and financial commitment to the return of the Ngige construction and rehabilitation era, during the official presentation of campaign flag-off materials to the senator.

Soludo, Ogene, Odenigbo, Uzoh, Mrs. Ekwunife , Okonkwo, Ndubuisi and Ifeanyi Uba

Obi disclosed that though the group is non-partisan, AMPA’s support in politics is “earned by individuals whose records, antecedents and pedigree show that they will serve the people and perform well,” more so with the state’s slogan change from “Home for All” to “Light of the Nation.”

The AMPA boss decried the deteriorating state of insecurity, infrastructural and institutional decay, which he said puts the people at risk of losing their identity and roots as more people stay away from new yam festivals and other cultural/religious programmes including conducting traditional marriages for their children in Lagos and other secured cities.

“The government that did not give its people security has lost it all. We must not get used to this imprisonment of locking ourselves inside prison-like houses, moving with troops of armed policemen and military, like prisoners being escorted to court for trial or those condemned to death being escorted for execution.

“Dr Chris Ngige had it in his blueprint to commence developing freight and transport infrastructure to stimulate the economy of Anambra state and also create employment.

We know that not only will he restore all sectors that have gone to the doldrums since he left office, but he will move fast to continue implementing his people-oriented plan,” he concluded. Senator Chris, who was represented by Messrs Emmanuel Ojukwu and Valentine Uzokwe, stated that the richest man is not found in the graveyard but among the living and pledged to fight insecurity through provision of jobs.

Moghalu tasks INEC on credible polls
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief George Moghalu, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a credible, free and fair election on November 16.

Speaking with Vanguard yesterday, the former All Nigeria Peoples Party national secretary also boasted that the APC is the party to beat in the governorship election because it has the best candidate that will deliver dividends of democracy to Anambra citizens.

Moghalu said, Senator Chris Ngige, the candidate of the party parades the best credentials out of all the candidates running for the office.

His words: “I believe strongly and I am very confident that we are going to win the forthcoming gubernatorial race in Anambra State because our candidate, Senator Chris Ngige is widely accepted. He is tested, experienced and can be trusted”.

He also cautioned the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to be up and doing at the forthcoming polls.

“INEC should give Anambrians a free, fair and credible election in November because anything below standard will be unacceptable” he added.

He however maintained that the party is battle ready to confront the other parties at the polls saying “I can tell you precisely that we in the APC are ready for this election and we are not going for anything less than to win the elections”.