By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Uche Ekwunife, says she is supporting the Presidential Candidate of her party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for the Saturday, February 25, 2023, presidential poll.

Ekwunife told newsmen in Awka, the Anambra State capital, that despite her support for Atiku, her relationship with the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, as her brother, remains cordial, adding that she has no qualms with Obi winning the Presidential election.

But Ekwunife cried out that political blackmailers were working hard to destroy the relationship between her and Obi because she is a woman and insisted that her hands were clean.

She warned politicians to stop making inciting statements that would tarnish her long existing relationship with Obi after the general elections.

"Political opponents should stop the black­mail against me. All contestants should be given a level playing ground.

“I am being blackmailed because I am a woman but God knows that my hands are clean," she said.

Addressing journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) sectariate in Awka, the Senator maintained that Atiku was her presidential candidate of choice based on party affiliation.

“I am contesting to represent the good people of Anambra Central under the People Democratic Party (PDP) and am supporting my party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, while Obi is running the Presidential race under Labour Party, which I have no issue with.

“Mr. Obi is contesting to win as President and I am contesting to win as Senator also.But I don’t know why politicians are trying to use this to tarnished my long time relationship with him.

“So I am appealing to you, Journalists, to always sensitize politicians on how to play politics of maturity without any raccour."

Ekwunife who awarded herself pass mark in delivering on her electoral promises, said that she has represented her senatorial zone well through sponsorship of bills, execution of projects and securing employment for her constituents in her six years sojourn in the Senate, as well as her eight years tour of the House of Representatives.

"I have empowered so many people, given them gainful employments so that when I leave office, they could continue with their lives.

The senator however regretted that the third tier of government has been pushed to a corner because funds meant for them are diverted by the state government.

Welcoming Ekwunife and her team to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, the Anambra State Chairman of NUJ, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, assured the Senator that members of the Council, under his watch, would be objective in their reportage in the ongoing electoral process.