Ihuoma Chiedozie , Enugu

The All Progressives Congress has commenced moves to win Enugu West Senatorial District , currently held by Deputy Senate President , Ike Ekweremadu , in 2019.

Ekweremadu is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.

APC National Vice Chairman , South – East , Chief Emma Eneukwu , represented by the zonal publicity secretary , Hyacinth Ngwu, declared on Friday that his party must win the senatorial district in the 2019 general elections.

Eneukwu spoke at a rally organised to receive Donald Nnadi , a former PDP Chairman in Udi Local Government Area , who had just defected to the APC.

Enugu West Senatorial District comprises two federal constituencies – Udi / Ezeagu and Awgu / Oji /Aninri – and Ekweremadu , who is from Awgu / Oji /Aninri Federal Constituency , has been serving as the senator representing the district in the National Assembly since 2003.

Power has stayed in Awgu / Oji /Aninri for too long and for equity and fairness, it must shift to Udi /Ezeagu, Eneukwu said at the rally , which held at Ngwo – Uno, a community in Udi LGA.

“ Before the 2015 elections, we said we would not give our ticket to a federal constituency whose representative has gone three times; that was why our candidate came from here (Udi ).

“ We have told Greater Awgu (Ekweremadu ’ s constituency ) that they have stayed too long .
“ For equity and fairness, it must shift , ” Eneukwu said.

Also speaking at the event , a former Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, who recently joined the APC after declaring that the PDP was “ dead and buried ”, said it was not proper for one person to spend 16 years in a political office.

Apparently referring to the Deputy Senate President , Chime said , “ It is only where you don’ t have anybody that somebody spends 16 years in power. ”

“ Anybody who cannot survive outside politics should not join politics . You must serve yourself before you serve others, ” the former governor added.

It is being speculated that Chime, who attempted to unseat Ekweremadu as the senator representing Enugu West in 2015 , would once again contest the senatorial seat with the Deputy Senate President in 2019, as the APC candidate.

Chime, like Ekweremadu , is also from Enugu West , but he is from the Udi /Ezeagu Federal Constituency.

Chairman of the APC in Enugu State, Dr . Ben Nwoye , said they were at Ngwo – Uno to welcome Nnadi , and urged the people of the area to join the party.

Nwoye said APC would ensure “ a progressive and prosperous Nigeria . ”

The rally was attended by old and new members of the APC in Enugu State.

Punchng