Opposition parties flay Enugu PDP for initiating 2023 election talks

Some opposition political parties in Enugu State, yesterday, described moves by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to begin discussions and campaigns on who succeeds Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in 2023 as unfair and premature.

They argued that premium should rather be placed on delivering good governance and addressing the many challenges facing residents of the state.

A political pressure group in the PDP founded by a former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani’s political dynasty at the weekend urged Uwguanyi to name the zone that would succeed him, even as they pledged to commence work within the week to ensure the aspiration succeeds.

Speaking during a solidarity visit to Governor Ugwuanyi, by serving and former members of the National Assembly, former and past leaders of the party, state House of Assembly members, and former ministers among several others, Nnamani said the governor should be allowed to choose his successor in 2023.

The Nnamani’s political dynasty, which had produced governors in the state since 1999, had earlier conferred its leadership on Ugwuanyi.

But reacting to the development yesterday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and African People’s Alliance (APA) cautioned the PDP against acts that could cause disaffection in the polity.

State Chairman of APC, Dr. Ben Nwoye, said it was unfair for the PDP to start discussing who leads the state from 2023 when those elected in 2019 had yet to find their feet due to the prevailing circumstances in the country.

Nwoye said efforts should rather be made to assist those who were elected into political offices in 2019 to deliver on their campaign promises.

“In my view, comments and actions directed towards 2023 are not fair to Enugu people and their representatives, especially, when the incumbents are just beginning to find their feet due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ” he said.

“Elected officials should be allowed to deliver good governance within the period they were elected to serve and when the time comes, we shall deal with 2023,” Nwoye said.

His APA counterpart, Chukwunonso Ogbe, described the statement as undemocratic and capable of causing political tension in the state.

Ogbe pointed out that the state PDP has the right to associate with one another, but it was wrong to make statements suggesting that one man could decide the fate of the entire state.

“That statement, which was made public that Governor Ugwuanyi is allowed to choose his successor in 2023 is capable of heating up the polity.

“This is an implied admittance on Nnamani’s part to the culture of imposition of candidate on the people, which we have always protested against,” he stated.

He continued, “PDP’s arrogant and insensitive political disposition in Enugu State as openly asserted by the progenitor of Ebeano Political Family, in the person of Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani on September 19, 2020, shall be checkmated in future elections and the leadership of APA in the state is poised more than ever before to arrest the arrogant political inclinations of some PDP leaders within the ambits of the law.

“Furthermore, the leadership of APA in Enugu State makes it clear that come 2023, it is the people’s voice that shall be heard as to who shall become the Governor of Enugu State and not the voice of a few godfathers who have no regard for the political rights of the electorate.

We urge the people of Enugu State to get ready in 2023 to enthrone a new order of governance, adding that it now behooved the people to resist actions capable of endangering democracy in the state.