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Last weekend’s senatorial primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State were marred by violence and chaos.

The primaries,
which were supposed to take place in one venue, ended up taking place
in three different venues with conflicting results; and consequently
three candidates are claiming victory in the exercise. The three
candidates are Annie Okonkwo, a serving senator; Chukwudi Offodile, a
former member of the federal house; and another former federal
lawmaker, Jerry Ugokwe. Two of the gladiators would later confront each
other at Emmaus House in Awka which was designated as the official
venue for the primaries, a venue which remained deserted for most of
the day as the candidates were apparently conducting their own
primaries at different venues. When action finally shifted to the main
venue Messrs Okonkwo and Offodile almost engaged each other in a brawl
following the insistence by the latter that the electoral panel must
produce the list of delegates.

Before then, Mr
Offodile and his group were reported to have forced their way into the
venue by firing gunshots into the air despite the presence of police
officers when they discovered the gate was locked. “They didn’t want to
produce the delegates list but had to when we insisted,” said Mr
Offodile. He later told journalists that he was the winner of the
primaries and brandished a result sheet which he said proved he won. “I
have the result here,” he said. “The election was successful and I won
convincingly and I hope to represent Anambra Central senatorial zone in
the next National Assembly.”

Dora Akunyili’s shortcut

Mr Offodile also
warned that Dora Akunyili, former Information Minister and senate
candidate under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), would have
an easy ride to the senate if Mr Okonkwo was fielded by the PDP as its
nominee. According to him, every other candidate was qualified except
Mr Okonkwo.

Reacting, Mr
Okonkwo said he was the winner of the primaries for Anambra Central and
that it was not surprising as he controlled the highest number of
delegates. He described the claims and actions of Mr Offodile as
rascally and said he was never prepared for the election. “I control
70% of the delegates and none of the other people making noise was
prepared for the election,” he said. “I won the election overwhelmingly
by more than 80 to 85%. Anybody who claims he won it is a fraudster.”

He also warned that any attempt to replace him with any other
candidate would result in defeat for the party, even as he expressed no
fear for Mrs Akunyili’s candidacy, describing her choice as “a minus
for APGA and its greatest mistake.”