Youths protest alleged candidate substitution as PDP sweeps Anambra

 Chukwujekwu Ilozue, Awka

HUNDREDS of youths in Dunukofia constituency of Anambra State on Monday stormed the residence of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader in Awka over an alleged substitution of a candidate, P.U. Okeke for another, Charles Onwurah. The result sheets distributed by the Public Relations Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), R. O. Ndubuisi, however, showed that PDP won 29 of the 30 seats contested in the State House of Assembly election.

All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won the remaining one seat According to the result sheet, five members of the House retained their seats.  Four women also won elections in Aguata I, Onitsha South I, Ogbaru I, and Njikoka I state constituencies.  Incidentally, the only seat won by APGA was secured by one of the women. However, crisis erupted in Dunukofia where youths urged PDP to give the ticket to Onwurah, who contested the election with Okeke.

They claimed that Okeke, currently a member of the House had not done enough to merit being re-elected. On the other hand, they said Onwurah had a history of community development and would do much better than Okeke. The party leader, Chris Uba, however, sent for Okeke so that the matter could be resolved. [End]