From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South East, Barr. Ray Nnaji, has assured party members and aspirants that the PDP in Enugu State will conduct free and transparent primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nnaji, who served as the party’s National Auditor in 1999, gave the assurance during a brief chat with The Authority correspondent in Enugu on Thursday, May 7.
He disclosed that, pending the entry of more aspirants into the race, the PDP governorship primaries in Enugu State would be contested by former Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, and Chief Samson Nnamani, both of whom have purchased the party’s governorship nomination forms.
According to him, Chief Uche Nnaji was allegedly frustrated out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by political detractors, adding that the PDP in Enugu State welcomed him into the party.
However, the PDP chieftain stressed that the party would not hand any aspirant an automatic ticket, insisting that all contenders must participate in a credible and transparent primary process.
“In PDP, We are sticking to the rules of a free and transparent primaries. As at today,I know that one Mr Samson Nnamani, popularly known as ‘ODERRA’has purchased nomination form to context Enugu state PDP governorship primaries. In the same vein,the former Minister of Science and Technology,Chief U che Nnaji, popularly known as ‘NWAKAIBEYA’ has also bought our party nomination form. Some other person may join the race tomorrow.
“What we are assuring our aspirants is that our primaries will be free and fair. We are looking for the most popular candidates with large followership:,So we can win the election”,Nnaji stated.
Speaking on the political realignments that saw Governor Peter Mbah allegedly move from the PDP to the APC, while Chief Uche Nnaji is now seeking the PDP governorship ticket after leaving the APC, Barr. Nnaji described the development as unfortunate.
He lamented that Governor Mbah left the PDP despite the support the party gave him during the 2023 governorship election in the state.
“It is very unfortunate that Governor Mbah decamped from PDP to APC. We laboured seriously for him to win the 2023 Enugu state governorship election. He didn’t treat the party well.
“Not minding , We are on cause to prove to Nigerians that Enugu state has been a PDP state and will remain a PDP state in 2027.”
On the crisis within the national leadership of the PDP, Barr. Nnaji maintained that the issues had been resolved, adding that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), despite serving in the APC-led Federal Government, is still contributing to the growth and strengthening of the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
