Anambra: PDP Sacks Uba, Others

In line with its threat to deal with members of the party that have decamped to other political parties, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday directed that the names of Dr. Andy Uba, Nicholas Ukachukwu and Hon. Uche Ekwunife be removed from its membership register.The party directed its National Vice Chairman in the South East zone, Chief Olisa Metu and the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee in Anambra State, Dr. Osita Ogbu, to effect the removal of the names with immediate effect. Though both Uba and Ukachukwu have since left PDP to contest the governorship election under the platform of the Labour Party and Hope Democratic Party respectively, TheTide’s source gathered that the directive to de-register them was to ensure that they were not given any chance of returning to the party in future. The directive contained in a letter with reference number PDP/NS/NVC/SE/ 001-2010 and titled, “De-registering Dr. Andy Uba and Nicholas Ukachukwu from PDP” was signed by the National Secretary of the party, Baraje Abubakar Kawu.The letter de-registering Uba reads: “As you are aware, Andy Uba, who is a member of our great party in Anambra State is now a candidate for Anambra State governorship election coming up next month. “By contesting an election on the platform of another political party without formal resignation of his membership of our great party, PDP, Andy Uba has clearly forfeited his membership of our party, and it is expected that you will take up the matter by de-registering him at all levels of our party in Anambra State and advise the NWC as soon as possible.” A similar letter was written on Ukachukwu with reference number PDP/NS/NVC/SE/ 002-2010, which was copied to Metu and Ogbu. According to a source within the PDP, the party took the step because of the claims by former members of the party that they intend to return to the party after the governorship election in Anambra State. The National Chairman of PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, had told the last National Executive Committee meeting of the party in December 2009, that any member of the party that decamps to another party would not be allowed to return. Another member of the party that has decamped is Hon. Uche Ekwunife, who is currently the Peoples Progressive Alliance governorship candidate in Anambra State.