KWENU: Our Culture, Our Future

Why We are Contesting on Accord Party 

Chinedu Maduabum

Onitsha, Nigeria

 nedumaduabum@hotmail.com

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Ike Obiorah & CID Maduabum

Two serving federal lawmakers from Anambra State, Senator Ikechukwu Obiorah and Hon CID Maduabum recently gave reasons why they decided to seek re-election into National Assembly on the platform of the ACCORD party, insisting that their action was predicated on the lack of internal democracy in oth the People Democratic Party as well as the conspiracy of the local leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria, to subvert the results of the last National Assembly primaries.

Obiorah who currently represents Anambra South Senatorial district in the Senate and Maduabum, member representing Nnewi South, Nnewi North and Ekwusigo federal constituency in the House of Representatives were both members of the PDP, until late last year when they sought re-election under the banner of CAN

However, after allegedly emerging successful at the National Assembly primaries of the Action Congress of Nigeria-- having scored the highest valid votes respectively, the state leadership of the party subverted the results of the elections. After wide consultations with their respective constituents, the duo decided to join the ACCORD where, they stated, they would seek reelection in the forthcoming polls.

In a joint statement, they explained that besides providing them the platform to represent their people in the federal parliament, ACCORD also affords them the flexibility to support a presidential candidate of their choice in tandem with their consciences and aspirations of their respective constituents.

According to them, ACCORD, which is the first party on the ballot papers “is one of the political parties in the country without blemish,” adding that their decision was also predicated on their conviction that candidates' “character and integrity” are vital ingredients that now determine the choice of the electorates. They explained that the decision to run on the platform of ACCORD was the closest they could go as “independent candidates.”

Expressing optimism that they would emerge victorious at the forthcoming polls, the federal lawmakers noted that the electorate in Anambra State is “enlightened, matured, and discerning” who would not vote for candidates with questionable characters.

Here are excepts of the statement:

“We are contesting the forthcoming general elections for the Senate and the House of Representatives under the banner of the ACCORD party. The lack of internal democracy exhibited by the leadership of PDP and ACN left us with no choice but seek a new party without blemish. We now have the flexibility to support candidates of our choice in any party that accords with our consciences. The Anambra State electorate is now a mature electorate. We believe that the character, antecedents and achievement of a candidate is now more important than the political platform. There was a concerted effort to deny us the opportunity of representing ourselves to the electorate but God said no.”

Curled from: The Christian OUTLOOK

www.nnewidiocese.org/outlook.htm