Why PDP suspended governorship candidate 2 days after election
Ezenwafor
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State has suspended its candidate in the just-concluded governorship election, Mr. Jude Ezenwafor.
It was earlier reported that Ezenwafor recently visited the governor-elect, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, at the Light House, congratulating him on his victory at the polls, while the state executive committee of the party was meeting at the party’s Secretariat to ratify his suspension.
However, the Chairman of the party in the state, Dr. Chidi Chidebe, described the visit as a sell out.
Speaking with journalists, the chairman said their candidate, Ezenwafor, immediately after picking the party’s ticket, went incommunicado, refusing to hold meetings or rallies, but later announced that he had been attacked and shot in Abuja.
Chidebe, who read out a communique of the state executive committee on the outcome of the election, lamented that Ezenwafor “sold out,” refusing to campaign or call for help from the party.
The communique read: “The Anambra State Governorship Election has come and gone, and the general atmosphere during the election was largely peaceful, and both the conduct and outcome were, to a reasonable extent, transparent.
“However, the Anambra State Executive Committee had earlier expressed deep concerns over the disturbing conduct of our governorship candidate, Mr. Jude Ezenwafor.
“Throughout the campaign period, the candidate exhibited attitudes and tendencies that were not only uncooperative but outrightly destructive to the collective interest of the party.
“It is on record that the governorship candidate, Mr. Jude Ezenwafor, secured only one (1) vote in his own ward, Nnobi Ward 3, Idemili South Local Government Area, a ward with twelve (12) polling units.
“This abysmal performance represents the worst result for PDP in any ward across the state and clearly exposes his lack of character, credibility, and commitment to both the party and the election.”
After a thorough review of the activities of the candidate, the committee suspended him for one month and recommended him for further disciplinary actions to the state disciplinary committee.
The suspension communique read further, “Mr. Jude Ezenwafor is hereby suspended from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a period of one (1) month with immediate effect.
“That he be referred to the State Party Disciplinary Committee for further investigation and appropriate recommendations.
“That the National Working Committee (NWC) be formally notified and strongly advised not to grant Mr. Ezenwafor or his collaborators any further access or recognition at the National Secretariat, as their activities are clearly aimed at destabilizing the party.”
The party urged the FCT Police Command to investigate the candidate’s claim of being shot, noting that he was never admitted to any hospital and that no security or medical report confirmed any attack.
It further expressed disappointment that the candidate managed to secure only one vote in his own ward, insisting that all other votes for the party were mobilised by its members. The party described the election as the worst in its history.
