By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate for the November 6 poll in Anambra State, Valentine Ozigbo has described the move by the National Working Committee, NWC of the Party as one more reason he is assured of a victorious outing in the coming election.

The NWC had on Thursday announced a 145-member power-packed National Campaign Council to support the candidacy of its standard bearer, Ozigbo.

It named Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu as the Chairman of the Campaign Council while the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa was picked to serve as the Deputy Chairman. A former Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka is to serve as the Secretary to the Council.

Others include, Governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State who also dounles as the Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State), Diri Duoye (Bayelsa), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Darious Ishaku (Taraba).

Also named to the Council are the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; immediate past Governor of Anambra, Peter Obi; PDP BoT member, Senator Ben Ndi Obi; former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; a former Health Minister, Professor ABC Nwosu; PDP BoT member and a former Women Affairs Minister, Senator Josephine Anenih; the Vice Chairman of the PDP (South East), Chief Ali Odefa; a PDP National Executive Committee member, Chief Barrister Okey Muo-Aroh; a former Aviation Minister and former Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr Kema Chikwe; Minority leader in the House of Representatives, Hon Ndudi Elumelu; and Hon Boma Goodhead; among others.

The party had earlier named Senator Uche Ekwunife, who serves as the Chairperson of the State Campaign Council, and other notable Anambra politicians like Stella Oduah, House of Representatives members from Anambra State, Hon Chris Azubogu, Hon Lynda Ikpeazu, Hon Vincent Ofumelu, Hon Chinedu Onwuaso and Hon Obinna Chidoka were named to the Council including the party’s 2021 guber aspirants.

Ozigbo expressed confidence in the leadership of Governors Ikpeazu and Okowa and their capacity to deliver on the party’s expectations.

Speaking at the campaign office in Awka, the firmer Transcorp boss hailed the national leadership of the PDP for putting together such impressive team to support his campaign and promised to put in his best to make the party and Anambra people proud.

He said, “I am thrilled at the announcement of the Anambra State National Campaign Council by my party, the PDP.

“I am confident in the leadership, capacities, and competencies of His Excellencies, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to inspire and empower the team to win the November election.

“I consider it an honour and privilege to have such dignified men and women of our great party come together to help actualise our Ka Anambra Chawapu vision for the people of Anambra.

“I thank and commend our party’s national leadership for their vision and foresight. I also commend and thank all the PDP governors for all they have done and will do to make sure that the dreams and yearnings of the people of Anambra for a credible governor and change in fortunes comes to pass. May God bless them all.”

A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, announcing the national campaign team read in part, “The November 6, Anambra Guber Elections is expected to be keenly contested, and the PDP, by this move, is laying the grounds for the party to win the election and bring home the trophy,” Ologbonidiyan said.

“We promised a robust campaign based on the issues affecting the people of Anambra. This is just one more step by our party demonstrating to Nigerians, especially, Ndi Anambra that we are focused, ready, and committed to doing with it takes to rescue them from the atrocious government offered by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

Update news