The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State which has long been plagued by internal divisions and being led by parallel executives from the ward to State level, has successfully elected its executive for the first time in 24 years.
In a closely contested election, Mr. Chidi Chidebe secured 1,080 votes to emerge chairman while his main opponent, Amaechi Onowu, garnered 960 votes.
Other key positions filled during the State Congress include Mr. Charles Anierobi as Deputy Chairman and a grassroots mobiliser, Comrade Ebere Onunkwo, as Secretary.
Speaking after the Congress, which began at 3:30pm on Wednesday and concluded at 7:40am on Thursday, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State and Chairman of the Congress Committee, Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai, described the process as thorough and fulfilling.
“This was a tough but comprehensive exercise. And we leave here satisfied, having laid a new foundation for rebuilding our party. Our role now is to encourage the newly elected executive to work towards unity. Within the next 48 hours, they should engage all the candidates in a dinner with the elected officials to begin the process of reconciliation,” Ossai stated.
He further emphasized that there were no true victors or losers in the election, as it was simply a process to assign tasks.
“Those who won have been sent on a mission. True victory will only come when we reclaim Anambra State in the general elections. Only then can we truly celebrate,” Ossai added.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Chidi Chidebe expressed his desire to heal divisions within the party, noting that his opponent was not a loser.
His primary focus, he said, would be uniting the party and restoring peace.
“My campaign promise was to reconcile all factions within our party. I now call on my colleague, Amaechi Onowu, and others to join me in this effort. Together, we will prepare the PDP for the 2025 gubernatorial election in Anambra State,” Chidebe stated.
Until last Wednesday’s election the Anambra State PDP had been dogged by factional battles resulting in endless litigation and inconclusive Congresses. This severely limited the party’s ability to win key elections, benefiting rival political parties.