ABUJA – The protracted battle for the tickets  for  Anambra State senatorial seats for April poll, which had torn the PDP into further factions, has finally been resolved, with the release of the final list of candidates by the Independent National Electoral Comission, INEC.

Former aide to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr Andy Uba,  was named as the authentic candidate for  Anambra South senatorial seat. He is to contest the position against Chukwuma  Eze Nzeribe of APGA, Ikechukwu Obiora of Accord Party, Sir Chris Atuegwu of CAN, Chukwunwike  Nweke of the ACN, Chief George Nwaduben of the ANPP, Professor Nonso Mojekwu of  CPC and Umeorha Ike–Esther of Labour party.

For  Anambra North,  former Senator Joy Emordi will slug it out with eleven others under the banner of APGA.

The real battle is in Anambra Central zone where three heavyweights  are up in arms.

Former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili, of APGA, former state governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, of ACN and Annie Okonkwo of  Accord Party will battle for supremacy with  nine other candidates from different political parties.

Ironically, most of the candidates are defectors from the PDP.

The issue of who represents the state had  been a subject of litigation, following the conduct of parallel congresses during the various state primaries. The altercation had led to some of the aggrieved candidates defecting to some other parties, after they had failed to secure the ticket.

Meanwhile,  spokesman for INEC in Anambra State, Mr. Frank Egbo, confirmed on phone yesterday that the former presidential aide had, indeed, been cleared to contest the election on the platform of the PDP.
Anambra is considered as one of the volatile states in the run off to the April elections.