The Enugu State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party’s consensus candidate for the 2015 governorship election, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Friday, returned his expression of interest and nomination form.
According to a source at the PDP National Headquarters in Abuja, Ugwuanyi who has received several key endorsements from the state in the last few weeks quietly returned his form to Wadata House without fanfare as there were no accompanying dance troops and retinue of supporters.
The source told THE CITIZEN that Ugwuanyi in his characteristic manner does not like noisy fanfare and it was not surprising that no one accompanied him to the PDP Headquarters when he returned his form on Friday morning.
Ugwuanyi, the PDP consen sus candidate for the Enugu governorship race next year, is unarguably a grassroots politician and a cheerful giver.
In the words of Chief Ogbu Nweke, a public affairs analyst, “Ugwuanyi is one of the few men in his genera tion in our part of Igboland about whom the people can veritably say “here is our leader in whom we are well pleased.” I am yet to see a politician in the history of Enugu State whose choice as a governorship candidate has generated such widespread interest, acceptance and acclaim like Ugwuanyi’s,” he said.
It could be recalled that the Enugu State caucus of the PDP has adopted Ugwuanyi, as the consensus candidate of the party for the 2015 governorship election in the state. But the adoption, the party said, does not preclude other party members who have governorship ambitions from coming forward to challenge Ugwuanyi for the party’s ticket.
According to Okey Eze, PDP Enugu Spokesman, the Ugwuanyi’s adoption as a consensus candidate by the Enugu State PDP caucus followed the lead of the other stakeholders who had also adopted him.
“The Caucus reviewed the series of endorsements of the member representing Igbo Eze North/ Udenu Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, by the three Senatorial District caucuses of the party in the state and unanimously adopted him as the consensus governorship candidate of the party in Enugu State.
“The Caucus also wished Hon. Ugwuanyi well in his new endeavour and assured him of its support to secure victory for the party in 2015,” he said.
He noted that “the PDP Family in Enugu State” has since the inception of the present administration adopted a systematic approach to peacefully dealing with the issues concerning its primaries through dialogue and consultations with the people.
According to him, the approach, which he said “has always worked for the party,” has never stopped other aspirants who insist on participating in the primaries from doing so.
Eze expressed hopes that those who are still opposing Ugwuanyi’s endorsement “will eventually see the wisdom behind the party’s decision and support the popular view of our party members.”
Ugwuanyi’s endorsement was received with jubilation across Enugu State, especially in the Igbo-Eze North/Udenu federal constituency, where he is presently representing.