Anambra poll: ZLP substitutes ex PDP candidate, Okonkwo, with own candidate

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has substituted its governorship candidate for the November 6 election in Anambra State, Uche Ugwoji with Obiora Okonkwo.

The party will also unveil Okonkwo and his running mate, Jessie Balonwu, a former lawmaker and Commissioner in Anambra State to the people on a soon to be announced date.

Okonkwo, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had resigned from the party at the weekend after contesting to fly the flag of the party in the November 6 governorship election in the state.

Media adviser to Okonkwo, Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu, who disclosed the substitution of the party’s candidate to Okonkwo, said the process was completed on Friday, July 30, 2021, at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Uchegbu, in a press release made available to journàlists in Awka said: “With the development, Dr. Okonkwo will now be on the ballot as the candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) for the November 6 election in Anambra State.

“The submission followed Dr. Okonkwo’s resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Okonkwo resigned from the PDP in protest following the outcome of an illegitimate primary election where the Party abandoned its constitution and foisted on the members a process that cannot stand the test of the law thereby leaving the party with a barrage of litigations that do not point a clear direction as the November 6 election approaches.

“Also submitted to INEC was the name of Dame (Barr.) Jessie Balonwu, a former member of the House of Representatives and also a former State Women Leader of the PDP, a running-mate to Dr. Okonkwo.

“Dame Balonwu, who is from Onitsha North and South Federal Constituency of Anambra North Senatorial District, was also the first Igbo female senator-elect and Commissioner for Education in Anambra state. She also served the state meritoriously as Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB between 2005 and 2007.

“The leadership of ZLP will formally unveil Dr. Okonkwo and Dame Balonwu to the good people of Anambra State in the next few days,” Uchegbu said.

Since after the primary election of the PDP in the state, which saw Okonkwo losing to Valentine Ozigbo, with a very slim margin, several groups have called on him to re-enter the race through another party, stating that he had all the qualities needed for the governorship position of the state.

One of the groups, Anambra Rescue Mission (ARM) led by Azubike Anazor had last week addressed journalists, saying it would lead a delegation to the Ogidi-born Chief to accede to their request.