The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged aspirants contesting various elective positions in Anambra State to shun violence and electoral malpractice during the party’s primary elections scheduled for Friday, May 29, and instead embrace sportsmanship and peaceful competition.
The charge was given during a crucial stakeholders’ meeting in Awka, where party leaders briefed aspirants on guidelines and expectations ahead of the primaries.
Addressing the gathering, the Anambra State Chairman of the NDC, Mr Ikem Uzoezie, described the party as the most viable political platform in Nigeria at the moment.
He urged aspirants to conduct themselves with decorum, stressing that the primaries should be a contest of ideas and popularity rather than violence or conflict.
Uzoezie assured all aspirants of a level playing field, noting that the exercise would test their acceptance among party members.
He called on them to allow the best candidates to emerge in the overall interest of the party and ahead of next year’s general elections.
Also speaking, the Acting Chairman of the Electoral Panel, Mr Uchenna Okogbue, said the party expected a peaceful and credible process capable of positioning Anambra State as a model for democratic conduct in Nigeria.
He observed that with the party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, coming from Anambra State, national attention would be focused on the state during the primaries.
According to him, the exercise should be seen as a call to service rather than a “do-or-die” affair.
Consensus and Option A4
He disclosed that the party would adopt consensus arrangements where possible, while Option A4 would be used where consensus fails.
Okogbue further assured aspirants that the process would be transparent and conducted at designated venues across the 21 local government areas of the state.
In his remarks, Secretary of the Electoral Panel, Mr Chukwudi Igwe, admonished aspirants and their supporters to reflect the values associated with the party’s presidential candidate, warning that anything short of that would amount to a disappointment to Nigerians.
Prominent personalities at the meeting included Senator Victor Umeh, Senator Tony Nwoye, members of the House of Representatives such as Lilian Orogbu and Uche Annie Okonkwo, members of the State House of Assembly, INEC representative Mr Odinaka Okoroafor, the State Secretary of the party, Mr Arinze Udeze, as well as other aspirants, including Ebuka Onunkwor.
The primaries are expected to produce the party’s candidates for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate seats ahead of the 2027 general elections.
