PDP urges IG to investigate parallel Anambra governorship primaries

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday urged the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the illegal provision of sensitive party materials used at the August 24 parallel Anambra State governorship primaries.
Senator Andy Uba emerged the winner of the primaries, which the PDP has since disowned.
The party on Tuesday then called on Abubakar to probe the sources of the materials used for the primaries.
Tony Okeke, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, made the call in a statement in Abuja.
“We call on the Inspector-General of Police to forthwith commence investigations into the illegal procurement of sensitive party materials used at the illegal Anambra governorship primary election,” the statement said.
It added that the parallel primaries were organised by persons who paraded themselves as working for the PDP but were not.
The statement criticised the organisation of the parallel primaries and the subsequent election of another candidate to flag the party`s flag at the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election.
It stressed that the persons by their action breached the party`s constitution and would face disciplinary actions.
The statement added: “For the avoidance of doubt, the only governorship primary election recognised by the party was the primary election conducted by the electoral panel under the leadership of Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina.
“The organisation of another primary election other than the one referred to above, is a clear breach of our party’s constitution and is therefore totally unacceptable and cannot be condoned.”
It said that those involved in the illegal primaries were to appear before the party`s National Working Committee for alleged breach of the party’s constitution.
It added that they would appear for preliminary hearing on August 28 at the party`s national headquarters to show reasons why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.
The persons, the statement said, included Senator Andy Ubah, Chief Chris Ubah, Ejike Oguebego, Chief Benji Udeozor and Tonia Nwankwu.
Two factional leaderships had been operating in the Anambra State chapter of the PDP.
While one faction is led by Chief Ejike Oguebego and recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the other is led by Ken Emeakayi and recognised by the PDP national leadership.
The two factions had on August 24 organised primaries at different venues, which resulted in the emergence of Tony Nwoye and Uba, as the party’s governorship candidate.
However, Nwoye was the candidate recognised by the party`s leadership.
The Anambra governorship election had been slated for November 16.