Ekweremadu Wins, Others Emerge In Enugu PDP Parallel Primaries

Ekweremadu

The crisis in the Enugu State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party worsened on Sunday as several senatorial candidates emerged in parallel primaries in the state.

Three separate primaries in the Enugu East Senatorial Zone saw the emergence of three senatorial candidates, namely the incumbent Senator, Senator Gil Nnaji, former Chief of Staff to Governor Sullivan Chime, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo; and a former Minister of Information, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr.

The primary election, which produced Nwobodo, held amid tight security at the Rangers International Stadium, Enugu, while the primaries that were won by Nnaji and Nweke Jnr. took place at Nkwo Nike and Ozalla, respectively.

There were also unconfirmed reports that another aspirant, the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Nwabueze Okoye, emerged from another primary in the senatorial zone.

A similar scenario played out in Enugu North Senatorial Zone, where parallel primaries were contested by aspirants including the former Commissioner for Transport, Chuka Utazi, who is said to enjoy Chime’s backing, and a former national chairman of the PDP, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo.

Although, results from the primaries in the zone were being awaited, it was gathered that Utazi won the primary he participated in, while Nwodo is expected to win the other exercise.

Ekweremadu duly picked up the party’s ticket for the Enugu West Senatorial Zone after emerging unopposed following Chime’s withdrawal from the race.

Even though, he was the sole candidate, voting still took place, with Ekweremadu receiving 294 vote out of the 299 delegates accredited for the exercise.

The votes of the five remaining delegates were declared invalid as a result of irregularities.

Bad blood generated from the battle between Chime and Ekweremadu over the ticket for the Enugu West Senatorial Zone was threatening to destroy the PDP in Enugu State until Chime surprisingly withdrew at the last minute.

Interestingly, Ekweremadu surprised everybody by dedicating his victory to Chime.

The deputy Senate President said the governor made sacrifices for peace to return to the PDP in Enugu State.

“I want to dedicate this victory to Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State; he equally made personal sacrifices to pave the way for the peace we have today,” Ekweremadu said.