Senator Uche Ekwunife, the Chairperson of the Anambra Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Campaign Council, has described the forthcoming guber election as a "must-win" for the party, urging party members to unite and work as a family to ensure victory for the party's candidate, Valentine Ozigbo.
Ekwunife made the call on Saturday, September 11, 2021, when she hosted a stakeholder's meeting of top-ranking party leaders at the Senator Uche Ekwunife Center, Awka.
Senator Ekwunife, who is the lawmaker representing Anambra Central Senatorial Zone at the Nigerian Senate, charged party faithful to intensify effort to win the elections in their various polling booths and wards.
"Let us have it at the back of our minds that the November 6 governorship election is a must-win for the PDP. We have about 2 million prospective voters in Anambra. How many voters can you win for the PDP? If you win your ward, and I win mine, PDP has already won. Let us go home with this determination," Ekwunife said.
"Coming to funding, our candidate is equal to the task. We should, therefore, mobilise stakeholders of our wards and local government areas to support the project in our various localities. I see the success of the coming governorship election as a personal project. I need your shoulders to lean on so that together, we shall conquer," she added.
A high point of the event was the reading of a communique signed by the Anambra PDP Caucus at the National Assembly, pledging their full support for Ozigbo and his running mate, Mrs Azuka Enemo.
The communique, which was presented by Hon Obinna Chidoka, the lawmaker representing Idemili North and Idemili South at the Federal House of Representatives, reads in part:
"We, the PDP caucus at the National Assembly, congratulate the flag-bearer of our great party, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, for his victory at the Court of Appeal. We, hereby, promise to give him our full support in terms of advice and support during campaign rallies to ensure that the needful is done, to ensure victory for our party come November 6, 2021.
"We also urge PDP stakeholders in the state to redouble their efforts to ensure that the party wins the November 6 governorship election in the state. We also move Hon. Chukwuka Onyema takes over as the leader of the campaign council in the Anambra North Senatorial Zone as the highest-ranking member of the National Assembly in the zone."
In his remarks, Chief Ben Ndi Obi, who was the Chairman of the occasion, expressed delight at Ozigbo's recent victory at the Court of Appeal, adding that it signalled the commencement of the race by PDP towards recovering the state.
One of the political heavyweights at the event, High Chief Maxwell Okudo, a member of the BoT of the PDP, also expressed confidence in the candidacy of Valentine Ozigbo saying that the respected business leader had all it takes to win the upcoming poll.
While addressing the jam-packed hall, the Anambra State PDP Chairman, Chief Ndubisi Nwobu, said that the Court of Appeal had ended all distractions. He, therefore, told the party members to focus on winning the election as it would not be an easy task.
"We now have to remain focused. Winning a governorship election is not easy, but once we're together, we'll win. Whatever our aspirations and agendas are, we should bury them now and focus on winning the governorship election," Chief Nwobu remarked.
In his brief address, the Director-General of the Campaign Council, Dr Alex Obiogbolu, said the party's unity ahead of the guber election will see the PDP take over the state.
Hon Chinedu Onwuaso, the lawmaker representing Awka North and Awka South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, said the PDP has a high chance of winning the forthcoming election, especially with the calibre of people in the party.
"If PDP could win six federal constituencies and two senatorial seats in the 2019 general election, why can't we win the governorship if we do our homework well?" Hon Onwuaso emphasised.
The Minority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Onyebuchichi Offor echoes Sen Ekwunife's comments on the importance of taking the campaign to the 326 wards in the state.
The party leader in Anambra North, Hon Onyema, said the PDP must not lose the Anambra governorship election, especially with the abysmal performance of the incumbent All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
While addressing the audience, the party's flag-bearer, Valentine Ozigbo, said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and APGA had failed Nigerians and Anambra State, asserting that the PDP remains the only viable option for Anambra State and Nigeria.
"Today, PDP is the only platform to win and deliver dividends of democracy to Anambra people and Nigerians.
"There is no way PDP will come together as a family and not win the Anambra election.
"I know the importance of this election to us, the PDP, and Ndi Anambra. I will put in everything to ensure that this dream is actualised," the multiple award-winning global CEO added.
The ground-breaking event was attended by PDP leaders at all levels, including members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, State Executive Committee, Local Government and Ward Leaders, and members of both the State Campaign Council and the National Campaign Council.
Since he emerged as the PDP candidate for the Anambra governorship election, Mr Ozigbo has received unprecedented support of PDP leaders at all levels.
After an Abuja Appeal Court sitting validated his candidacy on September 3, 2021, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published Mr Ozigbo and his running mate, Mrs Azuka Enemo, a two time Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as the PDP flag-bearer for the election.
On Thursday, September 9, 2021, the PDP inaugurated a high-powered 179-member National Campaign Council for the Anambra guber election led by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta as the Deputy Chairman.
Senator Uche Ekwunife, the Chairperson of the Anambra Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Campaign Council, has described the forthcoming guber election as a "must-win" for the party, urging party members to unite and work as a family to ensure victory for the party's candidate, Valentine Ozigbo.
Ekwunife made the call on Saturday, September 11, 2021, when she hosted a stakeholder's meeting of top-ranking party leaders at the Senator Uche Ekwunife Center, Awka.
Senator Ekwunife, who is the lawmaker representing Anambra Central Senatorial Zone at the Nigerian Senate, charged party faithful to intensify effort to win the elections in their various polling booths and wards.
"Let us have it at the back of our minds that the November 6 governorship election is a must-win for the PDP. We have about 2 million prospective voters in Anambra. How many voters can you win for the PDP? If you win your ward, and I win mine, PDP has already won. Let us go home with this determination," Ekwunife said.
"Coming to funding, our candidate is equal to the task. We should, therefore, mobilise stakeholders of our wards and local government areas to support the project in our various localities. I see the success of the coming governorship election as a personal project. I need your shoulders to lean on so that together, we shall conquer," she added.
A high point of the event was the reading of a communique signed by the Anambra PDP Caucus at the National Assembly, pledging their full support for Ozigbo and his running mate, Mrs Azuka Enemo.
The communique, which was presented by Hon Obinna Chidoka, the lawmaker representing Idemili North and Idemili South at the Federal House of Representatives, reads in part:
"We, the PDP caucus at the National Assembly, congratulate the flag-bearer of our great party, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, for his victory at the Court of Appeal. We, hereby, promise to give him our full support in terms of advice and support during campaign rallies to ensure that the needful is done, to ensure victory for our party come November 6, 2021.
"We also urge PDP stakeholders in the state to redouble their efforts to ensure that the party wins the November 6 governorship election in the state. We also move Hon. Chukwuka Onyema takes over as the leader of the campaign council in the Anambra North Senatorial Zone as the highest-ranking member of the National Assembly in the zone."
In his remarks, Chief Ben Ndi Obi, who was the Chairman of the occasion, expressed delight at Ozigbo's recent victory at the Court of Appeal, adding that it signalled the commencement of the race by PDP towards recovering the state.
One of the political heavyweights at the event, High Chief Maxwell Okudo, a member of the BoT of the PDP, also expressed confidence in the candidacy of Valentine Ozigbo saying that the respected business leader had all it takes to win the upcoming poll.
While addressing the jam-packed hall, the Anambra State PDP Chairman, Chief Ndubisi Nwobu, said that the Court of Appeal had ended all distractions. He, therefore, told the party members to focus on winning the election as it would not be an easy task.
"We now have to remain focused. Winning a governorship election is not easy, but once we're together, we'll win. Whatever our aspirations and agendas are, we should bury them now and focus on winning the governorship election," Chief Nwobu remarked.
In his brief address, the Director-General of the Campaign Council, Dr Alex Obiogbolu, said the party's unity ahead of the guber election will see the PDP take over the state.
Hon Chinedu Onwuaso, the lawmaker representing Awka North and Awka South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, said the PDP has a high chance of winning the forthcoming election, especially with the calibre of people in the party.
"If PDP could win six federal constituencies and two senatorial seats in the 2019 general election, why can't we win the governorship if we do our homework well?" Hon Onwuaso emphasised.
The Minority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Onyebuchichi Offor echoes Sen Ekwunife's comments on the importance of taking the campaign to the 326 wards in the state.
The party leader in Anambra North, Hon Onyema, said the PDP must not lose the Anambra governorship election, especially with the abysmal performance of the incumbent All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
While addressing the audience, the party's flag-bearer, Valentine Ozigbo, said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and APGA had failed Nigerians and Anambra State, asserting that the PDP remains the only viable option for Anambra State and Nigeria.
"Today, PDP is the only platform to win and deliver dividends of democracy to Anambra people and Nigerians.
"There is no way PDP will come together as a family and not win the Anambra election.
"I know the importance of this election to us, the PDP, and Ndi Anambra. I will put in everything to ensure that this dream is actualised," the multiple award-winning global CEO added.
The ground-breaking event was attended by PDP leaders at all levels, including members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, State Executive Committee, Local Government and Ward Leaders, and members of both the State Campaign Council and the National Campaign Council.
Since he emerged as the PDP candidate for the Anambra governorship election, Mr Ozigbo has received unprecedented support of PDP leaders at all levels.
After an Abuja Appeal Court sitting validated his candidacy on September 3, 2021, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published Mr Ozigbo and his running mate, Mrs Azuka Enemo, a two time Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as the PDP flag-bearer for the election.
On Thursday, September 9, 2021, the PDP inaugurated a high-powered 179-member National Campaign Council for the Anambra guber election led by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta as the Deputy Chairman.