The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State has suspended its governorship candidate in the just-concluded election, Mr. Jude Ezenwafor, over what it described as poor performance and anti-party behaviour.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the decision was taken during a meeting of the party’s State Executive Committee held at the PDP Secretariat in Awka.
While the meeting was ongoing, Ezenwafor was reportedly seen at the Light House, Awka, visiting Governor Chukwuma Soludo to congratulate him on his election victory.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the State Chairman of the party, Dr. Chidi Chidebe, said the candidate abandoned the party immediately after securing the ticket.
According to him, Ezenwafor refused to attend meetings or organise campaign rallies, and later claimed he had been attacked and shot in Abuja.
Chidebe, who read the committee’s communique, accused the candidate of “selling out” and showing no interest in the success of the PDP during the polls.
The communique stated: “The Anambra State Governorship Election has come and gone, and the general atmosphere during the election was largely peaceful, and both the conduct and outcome were, to a reasonable extent, transparent.”
It further noted that Ezenwafor’s actions during the campaign were “not only uncooperative but outrightly destructive to the collective interest of the party.”
Party officials were shocked that the PDP candidate could only secure “one (1) vote in his own ward, Nnobi Ward 3, Idemili South Local Government Area,” which they described as the worst performance in the party’s history in Anambra.
After reviewing his conduct, the committee resolved to suspend Ezenwafor for one month and refer him to the State Disciplinary Committee for further investigation.
The statement added: “Mr. Jude Ezenwafor is hereby suspended from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a period of one (1) month with immediate effect.”
It also directed that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) should be formally notified and advised not to grant Ezenwafor or his associates further access to the national secretariat.
The party also urged the FCT Police Command to investigate Ezenwafor’s claim of being shot in Abuja, stating that there was no record or evidence of any such attack.
Meanwhile, the PDP leadership described the just-concluded election as its worst outing in the state, blaming the failure largely on the candidate’s negligence and disloyalty.