SOUTH EAST PDP LEADERS BICKER OVER CHOICE OF PETER OBI AS ATIKU’S RUNNING MATE

South-East Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Stakeholders have frowned at the decision of the Party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to run with former Governor Mr. Peter Obi without due consultations.
The PDP South-East Zonal Chairman, Mr. Austin Umahi, who briefed Journalists after an emergency meeting, said although they appreciated the slot to the zone, announcing it on social media was an embarrassment to them.

However, Peter Obi’s loyalists and former Secretary to the State Government of Anambra State during Governor Obi’s administration, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, who was present at the meeting, differed with the position of the Zonal Chairman saying that the presidential candidate for the PDP was not mandated to consult at the zonal level before going to the media.
Mr. Obaze called on the Leaders of the party in the South-East to back the decision and work together for the Party’s victory come 2019.
Meanwhile, the meeting ended without the stakeholders accepting or rejecting the candidacy of Mr. Peter Obi.

Some other stakeholders that attended the meeting included Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; his Abia State counterpart, Dr. Okezie Ikeazu; the Deputy President of the Senate, professor Ike Ekweremadu, PDP Senatorial Candidate for Anambra South district, Chris Uba and a former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Chief Osita Chijioka.
In the meantime, some people and groups have reacted to the South East PDP’s questioning of the choice of Mr. Peter Obi as Atiku’s running mate.

One of such groups is the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), South East.
A joint statement by the trio of the NYCN South East Vice President, Comrade Nnoyelu William Onyibor; Chairman of Chairmen Forum South-East NYCN, Comrade Chukwuemeka Isidore; and the South-East Organizing Secretary of the association, Comrade Smart Uwakwe frowned at the move they described as childish and against the interest of Igbos.

According to the statement, “It is obvious that these so called leaders are working for the enemies of Ndi Igbo who are doing everything possible to annihilate the Igbos.
“The most funny part of this childish move against the collective interest of Igbo youths in particular and Igbos in general is that none of the architects of this group is not in any way close to Mr. Peter Obi in terms of capacity, contact and network both within and outside the country.”

In a related reaction, the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo appealed to the South-East PDP stakeholders to welcome the nomination of Peter Obi as the party’s Vice Presidential candidate.
The President General of Ohnaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Nnia Nwodo observed that rejection of Peter Obi’s selection would upset the political arrangements towards the 2019 presidential elections.

CHUKWUMA EZEOGU AND CHUKWUBUIKE MADU