The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has picked controversial former Central Bank governor, Charles Soludo, as the party's candidate in upcoming Anambra state gubernatorial elections scheduled for February 6, 2010.
Our sources said the choice of Soludo materialized after much behind-the-scenes intrigues and maneuvers carried out by PDP operatives with ties to Umaru Yar’adua and his wife, Turai Yar'adua.
The PDP congress was moved to Abuja in what a PDP official told Saharareporters was “a strategic move to avoid the impact of a court injunction granted against the party by an Anambra State high court.” Then the congress was moved from the party’s secretariat in Abuja to the Shehu Yar'adua Center when word reached Turai Yar'adua that some PDP party officials had received large sums of money from Chris Uba to make his brother-in-law the candidate of the party.
The PDP’s attempt to hold primaries to determine the party’s candidate was marred by widespread shooting and other forms of violence perpetrated by thugs hired by different candidates or their sponsors. Abuja-based attorney, Kayode Ajulo, an eyewitness at today’s meeting to choose a “consensus candidate” said party members “conducted themselves in an unruly manner at the Yar’adua Center.” The witness said, “the members of the self-styled largest party in Africa behaved worse than gangsters. They broke anything breakable, even shoved and assaulted three police officers.”
Saharareporters had earlier reported that Charles Soludo had enlisted Mrs. Yar’adua’s help to secure the governorship in order to buy himself immunity from prosecution in a myriad of fraud cases dogging him. The latest controversy around the former CBN governor has to do with a bribery case involving Securency, an Australian currency manufacturer.
Soludo reportedly demanded and received bribes from the firm before steering contracts to the company to mass-produce polymer currency. A source familiar with the case also told Saharareporters that Mrs. Yar'adua was implicated in the bribe-for-polymer scandal. But while Soludo’s candidacy excites Mrs. Yar'adua, a source in Abuja told us that a political shocker might await Turai. The source of the shocker is in the candidacy of Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, a member of the House of Representatives who trounced Mr. Emeka Etiaba in the primaries yesterday to become the candidate of PPA. Our sources said Mrs. Ekwunife might be the joker from the Chris Uba camp.
Said the source: “Since Chris Uba has failed to put in his brother-in-law, his group may work for the victory of Mrs. Ekwunife – who will then return to the fold of the ruling party the same way Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, was brought into office under another party and then decamped to the PDP as soon as he stabilized.”
Uche Ekwunife, a former youth corps member in 2000, notoriously dated former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju of Anambra. She made an incredible fortune as a front for the former governor. She was found to be in possession of N2 billion in her private account, and later resigned from Standard Trust Bank to join politics, with all her loot intact.
Comments (42)
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Prophecy
said:
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... My GOD,what is going on.This is unbelieveable especially the part on Uche Ekwunife.Corp member in 2000 with N2Billion in her account,House of Rep.member in 2009 and now PPA governorship candidate and possible gov.of Anambra.Does she have the experience and qualities to lead people at this level or is this another looting in view?Why are some of our Ibo leaders dissappointing us at the big stage. May GOD help US. |
Mefor Chukwudi Ofalla
said:
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... In my opinion, Soludo should either go back to his lecturing or vie for an advisory role to the nation. May the Lord who sees the heart choose the rightful person. As for me, Ngige is it |
Nature Uchenna Obiakor
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... I am pleased to add up my comment here. I hail from Aguata Anambra State Nigeria, as a civil society activist campaigning with the Youth Network for Social and Democratic change,its time time to make a change in our state. its time to let the people led. its time to give vioce to the poor. its time to partner with the public to make a change in Anambra state. We Have planned a Stand Up for Peace and free and Fair Election concert on the 2nd January 2010. the concert targets youth, women and Anambarians from all works of life. for more information conatct Nature Uchenna Obiakor standup.change@yahoo.com |
MRS NONYE SOLUDO
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... aS A WIFE TO SOLUDO, I BEG TO SAY THAT HE HAD EXTENDED HIS PROSTITUTION TO POLITICS; I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER I AM NOW HIV POSITIVE, BUT IF I DIE, PLEASE THE WORLD SHOULD KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL TO HIM; WE HAVE QUARRELED MANY TIMES ON ACCOUNT OF HIS INFIDELITY, BUT HE WILL NOT CHANGE. SURELY, I DO NOT SUPPORT HIM TO BE SO FRAUDULENT, BUT GREEDY PEOPLE IN PDP HAD CHANGED THE SOLUDO I KNOW - AM AT THE VERGE OF BEING DIVORCED ANY MOMENT FROM NOW. MY KIDS ARE ALL SICK, AND STRANGE ILLNESSES KEPT ATTACKING MY CHILDREN; MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING. I AM NOT PART OF THIS POWER-DRUNKENNESS, NEITHER DO I SUPPORT HIS NUMEROUS BRIBERY ACTS. |
SUNNY UDOH
said:
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... The writer did not write about DR JERRY SONNY UGOKWE WHY? He would have be the best choice for pdp. |
onome pius
said:
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... AM SURE SOSO LUDO WILL REGRET THIS HIS GAMBLE. THEY WILL BE NOTHING LEFT OF HIM BY THE TIME HE IS BEATEN BY NGIGE. PDP IN ANAMBRA IS A WAGON FILLED WITH AGBERO & AREA BOYS. THEY WILL SEND HIM TO THE CLEANERS BANKRUPT. BON VOYAGE. onome pius |
AARON DOBOR
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... IF THE NUMEROUS REPORTS ON TURAI YAR A DUA ABOUT BRIBERY IS TRUE THEN,MR PRESIDENT SHOULD ATLEAST BE ASHAMED OF THE PERSON OF A WIFE HE HAS. NONTHELESS, NIGERIANS REGARD TURAI WITH GREAT STUPOR HER INTROMISSION IN GOVERNANCE AND HER CORRYPT ACTS MAKES US WONDER WHO REAL WEARS THE "TROUSERS" IN ASO ROCK. IF THE PRESIDENT CAN NOT MANAGE HIS FAMILY WELL, HOW COULD HE COPE WITH PRESIDING OVER AFAIRS OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA? |
benchuks
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... Soludo's nomination is far better than the whole 47 aspirants who are after the sate treasury.As regards Soludo looking for immunity,pls,he has not been accused of any wrong doing not to talk of trial and conviction.He did his best as CBN helmsman and should be commended because he still the best CBN gov.we have had in Nigeria.Not even Sanusi antics will match Soludo's glorious days at the apex bank.Anambrarians,the set time has come for your liberation.Vote for the best and be the true light of the nation. |
omo guarantor 4kasibe
said:
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... Lucifer, lucifeerr, lucifeeerrr, how many times i call u na three time o. please now distroy this annexxe of kingdom of hell on earth called nigeria . Because i know this is not happening in real live i think am dreaming. somebody please wake me.............. |
babs
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... SOLUDO is indeed trying to get immunity from the law. We should wait and see those that will benefit from when he is inaugrated as the governor because surely INEC will declare him the winner at teh end of the day. |
Toyin Ade
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... The only person that can help deliver Anambra state from the claws of vampires is Mauris Iwu if he decides to cooperate with God and give the people in that state a free & fair election.There are two camps now that wil be working on Iwu to rig the election in their favour.The 2 camps are PDP & Chris Uba.Iwu can choose to redeem his battered image or allowed it to be battered more,the choice is his. Where will all this manipulation lead to?I pray that God will intervene and allow the real people's choice to be the winner that will be declared by INEC. |
Too Much!
said:
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... Contd.... These people have no shame nor do they know what nation building is? All they care about is the money that would go into their overflowing ego and attire. It is sad reading this story and looking at the evil people in this picture. It just makes you wonder if this country truly has a future with these darth vadas lurking around the dark alleys all over the country. Conduct a freaking primary election for credible candidate to emerge for God's sake! What is difficult about that? Shame, shame, shame. |
Too Much!
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... It is just funny looking at these men (and woman) with their long hats or caps or whatever they call them. They just look evil to you in their demeanor. It is even sadder seeing a supposedly learned professor feeling giddy in their midst. That says it all about this country and its troubled people. The whole scene looks like a halloween party or movie which really Nigeria is. It is not about ideas, but evil machinations of rotten people. Nigeria is one big halloween place where evil reigns supreme. At the time people all over the world devote their time and energy to better their countries and people, mad men and women in Nigeria are plotting and scheming to impose on people. What a waste? |
MAD DOG
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... How can Nigerians be watching these Good for nothing criminals band together and decide the next person(leader) that will steal from their treasury ? This is becoming very annoying to watch.Ordinary citizens are suffering day and night and these idiots are literally flaunting their stolen wealth in public.My heart bleeds for nigeria. |
jide adeyanju
said:
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... If Soludo was handpicked, this is better for the two contending governors i.e.Obi and Ngige because if the participant's who has cases in court wins their actions, Soludo may be substituted for another candidate. if PDP fails to yeild this may snowball into losing the governorship seat at Tribunal and this may call for a re-run. Obi has proven himself and if the people of Anambra want progess and development they must vote masively for him and make the election difficult for PDP and INEC to rig. |
EVANG EDDY ILERO KAJOLA
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... ANAMBRA!!! WHEN SHALL YOU BE DELIVERED FROM THE HANDS OF THESE EVIL MEN CALLED POLITICIANS? ANYWAY,WE SHALL ALL DIE ONE DAY TO LEAVE THIS WOLRD OF VANITY TO GIVE ACCOUNT TO GOD ALMIGHTY. RICHMEN WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS WORLD? ONE DAY YOU WILL FLY AWAY LIKE GRASS........ TO WHERE? REMEMBER THE RICHMAN IN THE BIBLE. |
OBAMA PIKIN
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... the case of anambra is going to be like the case of ekiti where the rulling party are going to deploy all means to make sure the state is being concared by all means. But it is time for obi and co to sit up. becos this fight is not going to be the fight for anambra party pdp alone, is going to be a fight for ruling pdps cabals i.e. the yara, iwu/andooca camp so apga & ac should sit up. |
Yomi Akinlabi
said:
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... Lets jettison sentiments. Soludo is a worthwhile candidate to be selected/elected. Even God Almighty has His chosen people among humans.Though, all humans are equal before God but some are more equal than others. The good works Soludo has done outweighed his bad deeds. Let all Nigerians particularly Anambrans give him a chance. God bless Nigeria. |
Okemefula
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... It's really a shame to read the account of how PDP can conduct a primary. It must have been a reign of thugery. To imagin that this is the ruling party and a govt that will conduct gen election come 2011 is most frightening. this party appears to be beyond redemption and bent on destroying Nigeria. Seing that the country may not absorb another sock of mass rigging in gen election come 2011, its difficult to blame anyone who predict disentigration. May God help us. |
joe igbokwe
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... I said it that billions Soludo received as kolanuts from dubious Banks CEOs while the fraud was going on will be deployed to capture and conquer Anambra State.Chief Tony Anenih, one of the greatest traitor ever known in the history of Nigeria,the Mr FIX IT, the greatest election rigger in Nigeria cannot go to Anambra for nothing. He was bought by SOLUDO to help to rig him to power.But Anambra State is no easy state for election riggers. Ask Chris Uba, Senator Ike Abana,Rep Chuma Nzeribe, and Dr Chris Ngige.Now that Soludo has been selected to run there are few things we will want him to clarify during his tenure at CBN; Where was Soludo when Bank CEOs converted peoples money to their own personal use?Where was Soludo when all the Banks Books are full of lies and blatant lies?Why did Soludo not see the rot and the deceit in the banking sector? How much did Soludo pay Tony Anenih to bring him to Anambra state to rig him to power?How did Soludo emerge as a consensus candidate? |
KK
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... I just wish the INEC will allow a free and fair general election in Anambra at least to redeem their image. Then we shall see whether Soludo can beat Peter Obi and Chris Ngige. Mr President, we want a free and fair election. Enough of imposition, God almighty shall grant you a good health as a reward. |
Mondada Harry
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... The functionality of the micro unit is suggestive of a functional whole.Soludo,as we now know, is a learned thief who almost carried the micro CBN to his hometown.Anambra as the whole will be penniless should he emerge.All hands must be on deck to denying him the luxury of adding another doctorate degree in thievlology . |
myers
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... I would have liked that Soludo did not get involved at this point in time.I also understand that many bigheads in Anambra persuaded him into joining the party. Soludo might be the best candidate after all if he does not descend too low to the whims of "anambra godfathers". I would have liked that Ngige comes back to finish what he started.Regardless, this is the time for INEC of Nigeria to absolve itself. Let the best candidate wins so long it is free and fair. About the accusation of bribery against Soludo, the writer seems to have forgotten that Soludo is also a nigerian. Maybe, I ought to remind the writer that in Nigeria if you dont have any baggage hanging on you I bet you cannot win an election. You ought to have commited one or two criminalities to belong to the club of "thiefers/looters",only then you can be respected but this is only true in nigeria. A country without a leader. Oh sorry, I meant to say visionless president. |
debbie
said:
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... they should all be serving long term jail sentences. and im not sure how can a little girl who only did her youth service in 2000 be qualified to be a state governor??? even saharareporters, from the tone of this story seem to be rooting for her,a young female, crook and thief, using her bottom to make money. sleeping around with old men, that ugly mbadinuju. this is not the example we want as the first female governor in nigeria. mba!! little girl-thief should be in prison - alongside her men-folk. As for soludo. he's just a disappointment. but i would rather have him than the girl. he has much better knowledge and experience, better pedigree. the girl: what does she know!!!! she would only wreck anambra and finish off the place with those evil mba brothers in tow. i pity nigeria if this is what we are reduced to! |
obiora
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... IN SPITE OF SOLUDOS WEAK POINTS, HE STILL REMAINS THE BEST CANDIDIATE FOR ANAMBRA, CHRIS UBA AND ALL HIS COHORTS ARE NOBODIES IN TODAYS ANAMBRA. GIVEN FREE AND FAIR ELECTION SOLUDO WILL WIN HANDS DOWN, HE HAS WHAT IT TAKES. EKWUNIFE WHO? ABEG MAKE SHE GO SIT DOWN, WHEN STRONG MEN CANNOT SWIM THE TIDE OF ANAMBRA POLITICS NA THIS ONE, SHE CANT EVEN DELIVER HER WARD. I REST MY CASE |
Ibrahim D Muhammad
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... Oh Mikkyfada! I thought we have transcend into the world of reason and have abandoned sentiments so as to integrate and progress. Anything negative is referred to as "northern agenda", even if the major actors and beneficiaries are spread across the nation. Do away with emotions and accept realities. We have only two solid camps in Nigeria and even globally: good and evil without regard to geographical, religious, racial, tribal ------- boundries. You said "obviously, 2011 election will be the last before the entity called Nigeria goes into final extinction", what a prediction! Is this also a "northern agenda"? |
VI
said:
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... Regardless of the most qualified candidate, the TRUTH is that Anambra people ought to elect who represents them democratically. Yar'aduah in his sick mind behaves like his master (OBJ) by believing it is upto him to choose who represents Anambra. I will tell you that in a free and fair election, SOLUDO cannot win because there will be many slighted PDPs working against him. However, knowing that election outcome in Nigeria is not decided by voters, Soludo might as well start picking his cabinets. Soludo cannot beat NGIGE and Peter Obi. He barely spent time in Anambra in the last few years. I hope PDP gets embarrassed in the next election. |
Fr.Emmanuel Ogundele
said:
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... PDP will never change. It is simply a party of and for crooks and criminals of different shades. With a party like this in control of Nigeria, there will never be any meaningful change. Period. |
AKU EBILISI
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... CHRIS UBA IS A NOBODY IN TODAYS ANAMBRA STATE.....SOLUDO'S ELECTION SHALL BRING ABOUT THE BEST OF ANAMBRA....WATCH OUT NIGERIA......HERE WE COME |
peters
said:
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... SR,please, please, please.you guys will kill me one day.Are this things happening for real, a youth corper just nine year ego with N2b in her account.Nigeria is doom.tsunami should have happened in Nigeria, bunch of hopeless people. |
mikkyfada
said:
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... I knew it before now that Sanusi Lamido was only acting the script given him by the North in conjuction with PDP. Just look round and tell me how many respected Southerner are members of PDP...Not even one. I keep wondering why Soludo has not been arrested and arrased along with the Cecilia Ibru and co whose banks were taken over by the CBN in the name of financial Sunami?. Afterall the affected banks were been audited by CBN auditors while Soludo was the CBN boss. obviously, 2011 election will be the last before the entity called Nigeria goes into final extinction. |
Ono Wu!
said:
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... One wish that any thing good will come out of this. That INEC will for once let Anambra people determine who will be their governor. I wish the best candidate with the interest of Anambra people emerge. All the PDP thugs criminals both small and bigh will find a real means of livelyhood. Iknow drean is just a dream. |
Ezhi Opfu
said:
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... Great Stuff Saharareporters! You have proven yourself the most autentic Nigerian news source inthe world! Congratulations!! |
NWA NIMO
said:
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... IN SPITE OF ANY SHORTCOMINGS HE MIGHT HAVE, CHARLES SOLUDO REMAINS THE BEST QUALIFIED AND COMPETENT OF THE 47 ASPIRANTS PUT UP BY THE PDP AS FOR CHRIS UBA.EKWUNIFE..ANAMBRA HAS NO TIME ANYMORE FOR SUCH PEOPLE ..AT BEST THEY ARE TOOTHLESS THUGS WHO CANNOT AFFECT SOLUDO AT ALL. AM NOT A FAN OF PDP AND I DONT BELIEVE SOLUDO IS A SAINT BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HE WILL DO WELL FOR ANAMBRA STATE |
osagie oscar asemota
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... the kingdom of Satan do strive but to no avail, as evil party (House) divided and sowed in corruption cannot stand against the awaken tide in Obi of APGA. seludo is among awaiting victims of his own pdp's unfortunate leadership circumstance that may rock Anambra soonest. pdp has 4 camps amongs her members nation-wide; babangida founder camp, obasanjo president-manager camp, yardua mumu-caretaker camp and others comprising ogbulafor Anambra destabilizers camp among other confused and left to serve members like ibori and his likes. |
Chukwudi Obioma
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... It would have been better if you reported on all the candidates as it seems some were spared from your hard knocks. The common denominator however, is that all the candidates as it were, have excess baggage which the winner must unload to win.Prof. Iwu now has a unique opportunity to redeem his image by ensuring that INEC conduct a free & fair election in Anambra on Feb 6th 2010. |
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