No fewer than 1,000 stakeholders, aspirants, and delegates from the seven local government areas during the weekend endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) gubernatorial candidate for 2021 election Valentine Ozigbo as the frontrunner for the Anambra South Senatorial ticket of the party.
Ozigbo, received an overwhelming endorsement for the PDP’s Senatorial ticket for Anambra South from the delegates at the event held at Hollywood Event Centre in Awka, during the weekend.
While speaking, Ozigbo thanked the high-powered PDP audience for taking time out of their schedules to attend the meeting. He also expressed pride in the quality of aspirants who have indicated an interest in occupying elective offices.
Mr Ozigbo declared that the era of impunity, imposition, and undermining of internal democracy in PDP in Anambra State is over. He maintained that he remains a champion for due process, and his principles of fairness and justice have guided him to recognise the party executives that emerged through the ward congress conducted by the Governor Seyi Makinde-led committee in February 2022.
“We only have a few days to the primary elections, and we are all aware of Anambra’s sorry state. Therefore, I have been on the ground to make sure that we do things according to the book, and I assure you that no matter the attempts, the right thing must be done in Anambra PDP,” Ozigbo declared to loud applause.
“As your leader, I will always stand by what is right, what is just, and what serves the good of all.”
The PDP guber candidate also decried the attempts by some PDP leaders to hijack the process for the Ad Hoc Congresses, which were scheduled for May 1, 2022. He noted that the panel chairman sent to conduct the congress was compromised and committed to doing the biddings of some party leaders who know they can never win in a free and fair process.
Ozigbo debunked the accounts of the chairman of the panel, who alleged they were kidnapped and held hostage. He reiterated that PDP stakeholders only asked to see the original result sheets before the exercise commenced. Following the failure of the panel to produce the original result sheets, they postponed the exercise.
He hailed the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in upholding the truth about the exercise and said that INEC’s report vindicated him and other party leaders who were falsely accused of kidnapping the ad hoc congresses’ panel.
Ozigbo, the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, further charged the PDP delegates to consider the weight of their decisions and ensure that credible candidates emerge.
“Our party’s primary election holds in a week, and I urge our delegates to be resolute, unbiased, and fair. Examine everyone who has declared an interest and vote for who your conscience tells you can give you a quality representation,” Ozigbo, a multiple award-winning global CEO, added.
“My solemn promise is to support all candidates who emerge from the primary election process, and I expect the same from everyone. We must unite and win together.
“I have declared my intention to occupy this office because I believe I meet all the criteria of a generational leader, which is what our people desperately need right now.
“I will bring my personality to bear on interactions and engagement with National and State governments to better all of Anambra South. As a friend to all with no enemies, I will oil the wheel of progress for the good of our people,” Ozigbo declared to the enthusiastic audience.
Among the high-ranking PDP stalwarts present at the event were Chief Tony Offiah, who served as the Director of Finance for the 2021 PDP Governorship Campaign Council; Rt Hon. Eurcharia Azodo, a former federal lawmaker and speaker of the Anambra House of Assembly; Chief Andy Azike, an aspirant for the house of representatives; Sir Izuchukwu Oraelesi, the General Manager of the VCO Foundation; Hon Johnbosco Akaegbobi, the lawmaker representing Nnewi South II Constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly; Hon Onyebuchi Offor, the lawmaker representing Ekwusigo Constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly; and Mrs Justina Nwafor, the immediate past Woman Leader of the PDP in Anambra State, among others.