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| Governor Peter Obi |
•PDP canvasses amendment of party’s constitution
• Adopts Jonathan for 2015
By: Chuks Okocha, with agency reports
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Tuesday
said the Anambra State governorship election would hold on November 16, this
year.
This is coming as the state chapter of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) also called for the amendment of the party’s
constitution during the forthcoming mini National Convention of the party to
grant automatic ticket to President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2015
presidential election.
The election date, according to the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN), was contained in the election timetable released by the commission in
Awka Tuesday.
According to the election notice made available to
journalists by INEC’s Assistant Director, Public Relations, Mr. Frank Egbo,
electioneering campaigns by political parties would commence on August 18.
“In exercise of the powers conferred on the Independent
National Electoral commission by the Electoral Act 2010, as amended and all
other powers enabling it, the commission hereby issues the time table and
schedule of activities for the governorship election 2013 in Anambra State.
“Activities for the election will commence on August 13,
while the ban on campaigns by political parties in public is hereby lifted with
effect from August 13.
“The Anambra State governorship election will hold on
November 16, and in accordance with Section 179 of the 1999 Constitution,
run-off election (if any), would be held within seven days of the announcement
of the result of the election,” INEC said.
Meanwhile, the move to ensure that Jonathan gets an
automatic ticket was part of the resolutions reached at an extra-ordinary
meeting by the leaderships of the 326 wards, local governments and the State
Executive Committee (SEC) of the party, which was presented to its National
Working Committee (NWC) at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja
Tuesday.
Chairman of Anambra State chapter of PDP, Mr. Ken Emeakayi,
while briefing journalists, after the presentation which was received on behalf
of the NWC by the acting National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Tony,
Caesar, said the party adopted President Jonathan for the 2015 presidential
race.
The party, it was gathered, also: “Recommended further
amendment of the PDP Constitution 2012 (as amended) in the forthcoming PDP
National Convention to allow for the right of first refusal (automatic ticket)
as PDP candidates, to serving and performing PDP, president, governors,
national and state assembly members, to reduce infighting associated with our
party primary elections.”
The party said by the amendment of the PDP constitution, to
include the right of first refusal, it would automatically give President
Jonathan the party’s presidential ticket at an affirmation national convention.
Based on this, the party stated that it was also seeking for
automatic tickets for all “performing” PDP governors, members of the national
and state assemblies as a way to reduce friction in the run up to the
elections.
Emeakayi said the state chapter had resolved “that we urge
President Jonathan to accept to contest for a second term and we hereby adopt
him as our candidate for the 2015 presidential elections."
The state chapter of PDP also threw its weight behind the former
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, to be return to
the post as the only candidate from Anambra State to which the post is zoned.
The Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony
Anenih and a group known as the PDP Democrats have been championing the right
of first refusal to enable President Jonathan emerge as presidential candidate
without presidential primary election.
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