Enugu North Senatorial District of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described Senator Ayogu Eze’s allegation that there were moves by “some elements in Enugu State” to hire thugs to demonstrate against his insistence on open primaries in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, as unfounded and mischievous.
The Chairman of the party in Enugu North Senatorial District, Chief Mike Ejinima, in a statement issued in Enugu yesterday, wondered why Senator Eze should weep up sentiments to realise his gubernatorial ambition.
Eze, who is the Chairman, Committee on Works in the Senate and a governorship aspirant from the Enugu North Senatorial Zone, where the PDP zoned the governorship slot in 2015 to, had through his campaign organisation raised the alarm that there were planned demonstrations and attempts to deny him the opportunity to participate in the party primaries.
But Ejinima reminded him that the party by the zone’s unanimous endorsement of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as its consensus candidate had not closed its doors against any aspirant who held contrary opinion on the party’s decision from participating in the party’s governorship primaries election.
He said the party as an agent of democratic rules and values would be glad to welcome Senator Eze to the primaries to test his strength if he insisted on contesting against the party’s popular choice.
Ejinima thanked the party leaders from Enugu East Senatorial District for their endorsement of Ugwuanyi as their consensus candidate, just as he reminded Eze of the grave consequences of all his actions against the interest of the party in the state.
He stated that he was aware of a proposal by the youths of the party from the six local government areas in Enugu North Senatorial District to organise a peaceful and solidarity rally in support of the emergence of Ugwuanyi as the consensus governorship candidate of the party.
Ugwuanyi noted that such grassroots movement was in consonant with the norms and values of any political organisation worldwide.
The zonal chairman, therefore, advised Senator Eze and his team to be guided by “our common belief in the supremacy of the party and desist from further acts that could undermine the peace that exists in the party both at the zonal and state levels.”

… I’ve no rift with Chime –Lawmaker
From ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI, Abuja
Chairman of the Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze, has declared that there is no rift between him and Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, Senator Eze said he had been a friend with the governor for over 15 years, adding that they only differed on attempts to foist a candidate on the party
Eze explained that his disagreement with the governor was on the principle and procedure for choosing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the forth-coming general elections in the state.
He said he still held the governor in very high esteem and also expressed confidence that, “the governor will realise that those pushing him to take some of the steps he is taking now do not mean well for him and the state.”
He likened “what is being attempted in Enugu to the annulment of the June 12 elections which nearly rubbished all the achievements of the General Ibrahim Babangida administration.”
The governorship aspirant advised Governor Chime not to allow the selfish interest of a few individuals to force him to do anything capable of tarnishing his democratic credentials, adding that he was certain that “a level-playing field will be created for all aspirants in the state.”
He also gave assurances that whatever happened in the primaries, the PDP would win Enugu State convincingly in all elections.

Enugu guber: PDP warns Senator Eze over Ugwuanyi