By Vincent Ujumadu
AWKA—AFTER many years of leadership tussle in Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members of the party finally resolved their differences yesterday and elected Chief Emma Nweze as the state chairman at a successful state congress of the party.

Nweze was until recently the chairman of the 30-member caretaker committee appointed by the national leadership of the party, but the assignment was cut short following a court order obtained by the Benji Udeozor –led group which insisted it was the authentic executive member of the state PDP.

Though most top shots of the party in the state, including the party’s candidate in the February 6, 2010 election, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, among many others supported the congress, the self-acclaimed godfather of Anambra politics, Chief Chris Uba, who is backing Udeozor, was conspicuously absent.

In fact, despite the peaceful conduct of the congress, Uba was said to have petitioned the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, claiming that there were still unresolved matters, and urged the national leadership of the party to remember his contributions to the party.

At yesterday’s congress, a one time member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Chijioke Edoga, from Enugu State served as the returning officer, while a team from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, observed the exercise in line with an earlier directive given to the party to conduct congresses in some states, including Anambra.

Other people elected at the congress were Chief Cosmos Agagbo who emerged the deputy chairman, as well as three vice chairmen from the zones. They were Chief Chuba Egolum (Central), Chief Kenneth Emeakayi (South), Chief Emma Mbamalu (North), Mrs. Susan Ekwunife, state secretary and Ngozi Agudosi the publicity secretary.

Other key officers include, Mrs. Genevieve Ekwochi who was elected the new state woman leader and  Chief Clems Ezika as the state legal adviser.

Oath of allegiance and office were administered on the new executive members of the party by the South East zonal legal officer, Mr. Ukpai Ukairo.

In his speech, the South East zonal chairman of PDP, Chief Olisah Metuh, said the party was grateful to the former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu for coming together as a team again to move Anambra PDP forward.

Metuh reminded the new officers that whoever campaigned for them before the congress was no longer important, adding that what is important is that the state has conducted the best state congress ever in Anambra State.

The new chairman of the party, Chief Emma Nweze, described the outcome of congress as the wish of the people of the state.

According to him, “this is a new era and it is not going to be a cash and carry affair in Anambra PDP again.”

He called on members of the party to rally round the new executive members to enable them return PDP to what it used to be in the state, adding that the days of imposition of candidates on the party was over.

“There is no way the stakeholders, elders of the party and other financiers will sit down to allow the party being sold to one individual in a state where you have political egg heads,” Nweze said.