The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State yesterday took a new turn when the Tony Nwoye led group form another parallel executive to the one that was a fortnight ago inaugurated by the former Chairman of the party, Chief Ken Emeakayi.

It would be recalled that Nwoye who was the party’s governorship election in 2013 with other leaders of the party like Sen. Dr. Andy Ubah, Sen. Uche Ekwunife, Sen. Stella Odua, boycotted the recent congresses of the party held by the Olisa Metuh group in Awka which hitherto inaugurated parallel executive committees of PDP at the ward, local government and state levels.

At the occasion of inauguration of a new state EXCO held at the Emmaus House in Awka, a former secretary to the Anambra State government, Prince Ossy Ezenwa, was named the state chairman, with Chief Basil Ejidike as the state secretary.

The roll call has 21 members in the state executive committee, while others were drawn from the 21 local government areas and the 326 political wards in the state.

At the occasion which was well attended, the Tony Nwoye-led group passed a vote of no confidence on the national publicity secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, who incidentally is from the state and called for his immediate resignation as he was accused of contributing to the misfortunes of the party in Anambra State over the years.

Addressing the new officials, Chief Tony Nwoye said Metuh’s personal interest should not be allowed to override the interest of the entire members of PDP in the state saying that Metuh had overstayed his usefulness at the national secretary of the party.

In his words, “We in PDP believe in equity. Those who own this party, including former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Prince Arthur, Sir Emeka Offor, Sir Cletus Ibeto, among others, said I should tell you that you are the authentic PDP.

“There have been speculations as to what will be our fate in this party. While we admit that PDP remains ours, we want to use this opportunity to send signals to those who run the party that if they do not get their acts together, the All Progressives Congress (APC), will take over this state.

“With your inauguration, we will mobilise you adequately to enable you carry out the activities of the party at the grass root level. Most of you in these executive committees are high caliber people that have suffered for PDP since its formation and our demand is that the national secretariat should come and organise credible congresses for Anambra State.

“I want to assure you that the era of some PDP chieftains conniving with the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state to undermine PDP’s electoral fortunes is over. The acting national chairman of our great party, Uche Secondus, has assured us that we are the authentic party and we are therefore waiting for the national leadership to organise credible congress for us in this state.”

On his part, the new state chairman, Prince Ossy Ezenwa, assured PDP supporters that the new executive members were prepared to work as their assignment had been made easy with the caliber of the new officials.

He said: “There is so much work to do and we should start immediately.”

•Photo shows Tony Nwoye.

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