Youths Caution Against Consensus Candidacy

Youths from the seven local government areas of Anambra North have warned traditional rulers in the area against adopting consensus candidates for next year’s general elections.

The youth group, known as the Anambra North Youth Movement, said in a statement in Awka, Tuesday, that some monarchs planning to adopt consensus candidates for next year’s elections are in for a rude shock.

The statement, signed by Dr Chirah Obiorah, and Charles Ifediorah, said such royal fathers would be embarrassed publicly. 

The group dissociated itself from “the vexatious and undemocratic attempt by those they described as uninformed and apparently hungry individuals including some traditional rulers rooting for adoption of consensus candidates or political parties in the forthcoming general election particularly the senatorial election in the zone. It is condemnable and shameful for any Anambra traditional ruler to publicly meddle with politics, irrespective of  the level of pressure, hunger, temptation, attraction or deceit from any quarter at the risk of dethronement by his community, the state government or both,” the statement added.

They charged the people of the zone “to disregard in its entirety any adoption or imposition of any candidate by any traditional ruler whatsoever.”

The group maintained that the monarch should be “fathers to all and should at all time remain unbiased, nonpartisan and apolitical.

Three politicians are angling for the senatorial soul, of the zone namely, Senator Alphonsus Igbeke, immediate past senator representing the zone, Joy Emodi who defected from PDP to the All Progressives Grand Alliance; and Mr Tony  Nnachetta.

The youths said they were particularly disturbed by the positive disposition of the traditional rulers towards Emodi.