Preparations are in top gear by the leadership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to set up a committee to reconcile aggrieved aspirants in the recently concluded Anambra State Governorship primary.
Former Secretary to The State Government, Mr Oseloka Obaze, had on Monday 28 August, 2017 emerged the party’s governorship candidate but there are indications that some of the defeated aspirants and their supporters are aggrieved and there are fears they may not support the party at the Governorship election holing on November 18, this year.
Obaze polled 672 votes to defeat Chief Alex Obiogbolu, who scored 190 votes to come second and Dr Ifeanyi Uba with 94 votes, for third place, in the primary election held at Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka.
Four other aspirants including Chief John Emeka, Afodike Akaolisa, Senator Stella Oduah and Ms Linda Ikpeazu withdrew from the race over allegations of irregularities in the list of delegates.
It was gathered that Obase, since his emergence as the party’s candidate, has made some reconciliatory moves including visits, telephone calls and messages to all those who lost out in the race, with a promise to carry all sundry along in the race.
Meanwhile, an impeccable source told LEADERSHIP yesterday that while Obase’s reconciliatory initiative move is recording success, a move was made earlier in the week by the party’s leadership to compliment Obase’s peace initiative.
Hence, the party is working on setting up a committee that would reconcile defeated aspirants and their supporters to remain in the party and work for its success at the November Governorship election holding in the state.
Obaze was Secretary to State Government (SSG) of Anambra from June 12, 2012 to June 8, 2015, under former Governor Peter Obi, whose tenure ended on May 29, 2015, and briefly with incumbent governor, Willie Obiano.
Before his appointment as SSG, Obaze was in Nigeria’s diplomatic service and later, the United Nations, jobs that ran from 1982 to 2012.
In 2013, he was a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).