Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, Mr. Emeka Ibeh, at the weekend said that eight aspirants have purchased forms for Anambra senatorial ticket under the party in the forthcoming party primaries.
Among the aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket are the incumbent senator representing Anambra South Senatorial Zone, Senator Andy Uba, the Minister for Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, among others.
Though other aspirants who bought forms were not named, Ngige, who once represented Anambra Central Senatorial Zone at the red chambers is angling for a return, while Uba is aiming for third term in the Senate.
Recall that Ngige had recently told journalists that he was under pressure to run for the Senate, and that he was giving it a serious thought.
Giving a breakdown of the number that had picked forms, the state chairman of APC who addressed journalists in Awka, said that three of the aspirants were from Anambra North; two from Anambra Central including Ngige; and three from Anambra South, including Uba.
He confirmed that Ngige is seriously in the race, adding that he and Uba were among the major stakeholders that attended a meeting on Saturday in Awka, where the state working committee adopted consensus method for the party’s forthcoming primaries.
He reinstated the party’s resolve to contest all the House of Representatives and House of Assembly seats in the state in 2019, insisting that APC chances in the state are very bright.
He said: “Both Ngige and Uba have already purchased forms for the election at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
“We were given a directive on 30th August to summon state executive joint committee and principal stakeholders of our party. At the end of our meeting, we unanimously adopted consensus mode of primaries and that is what we are going to use in all our primaries, except for that of the presidential election which will be conducted through direct primaries
“All the stakeholders who attended the meeting agreed that the best manner of primaries is consensus, because it will help us achieve reasonable and maximum level of triumph in the 2019 general elections.
“By Wednesday this week, the committee working on modalities for the consensus primaries will come up with its recommendations, and then bring together all the stakeholders to harmonise and reach an understanding.”
According to the chairman, the committee will be headed by Mr. Ifeanyi Osegbo with Mr. Cyprian Udenwa as secretary.