*11 Governors, Federal Lawmakers, others, listed
By Emma ogbuehi
In the build-up to the November 6 Anambra governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated a National Campaign Council chaired by Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, the Governor of Abia State. The inauguration took place on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
This move has been described by Valentine Ozigbo the flag-bearer of the PDP for the November 6 poll, as “the winning masterstroke”.
The inauguration of the 179-member National Campaign Council follows the inauguration of the State Campaign Council and Campaign Organisations, as well as Local Government and Ward Campaign Organisations in the 21 LGAs and 326 wards of Anambra State.
In attendance were the Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who serves as the Deputy Chairman to Ikpeazu who was absent due to an official assignment outside the country; Senator Uche Ekwunife, who is the Chairperson of the State Campaign Council.
While speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the Council, Governor Okowa expressed confidence in the flag-bearer of the party and said that he and his colleagues were totally committed to backing up Ozigbo to ensure that he wins the election.
“We have the best candidate, we have the best message, we have the best party, and we have the greater grassroots support,” Okowa said.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who spoke at the event highlighted the great chances of the party in the election, hailing the leaders, and affirming the party unity.
“Our great party, the PDP, has never been this united heading into an election before,” Abubakar said as he threw his weight behind Ozigbo.
Other governors named to the council and present at the inauguration were Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum; Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom; Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi; Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa; Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue; Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu; Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo; and Taraba’s Darius Ishaku.
Joining the governors on the Council are Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, the Senate Minority Leader; PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) member, Senator Ben Ndi Obi; former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Iyom Josephine Anenih, a former Women Affairs minister and a BoT Member; and Aliyu Gusau, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara.
While addressing the audience, the party’s candidate, Ozigbo thanked the National Working Committee of the PDP, the PDP Governors Forum, the party’s Board of Trustees, for the support and encouragement that he has received from them.
He declared that the inauguration today “sends a powerful message to the nation, particularly Ndi Anambra, that PDP is ready to win the upcoming election”.
Ozigbo expressed confidence in the leadership of Governors Ikpeazu and Okowa saying that with their leadership of the campaign, the PDP is on the right path to executing a cutting edge campaign that would take the Ka Anambra Chawapu message to the deepest grassroots of the southeastern state.
Senator Abaribe, in his remarks called on all the people of Anambra State to rally behind Ozigbo and the PDP in the election.
“It should not be heard that a party that is operating in the 13th Century comes in and takes over Anambra State,” Abaribe said, in apparent reference to the ruling party. He declared that the reported plot to rig the November election will not work in a state like Anambra.
Others members of the Campaign Council include Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra and the 2019 Vice Presidential Candidate of the party; Senator Josephine Anenih, a BoT member and former Minister of Women Affairs; Chief Ali Odefa, the PDP Vice Chairman for the South East Zone; Chief Okey Muo-Aroh, a member of the PDP National Executive Committee.
PDP had earlier in August, inaugurated its campaign structure for the 2021 Anambra election at the ward and local government levels.
