Confusion has engulfed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Enugu State after two parallel factions announced different winners from the exercise held ahead of the 2027 governorship election
While one faction declared Chief Sampson Nnamani winner of the primary, another announced former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, as the party’s governorship candidate, deepening uncertainty within the party in the state.
In one result announced, the PDP Returning Officer, High Chief Wisdom Okoye, declared that Nnamani emerged victorious after polling 7,542 votes to defeat Nnaji, who secured 121 votes.
Okoye said the primary was conducted across the 17 local government areas of the state in line with the party’s constitution and guidelines approved by the National Working Committee (NWC).
“A total number of accredited votes was 7,663. Chief Sampson Chukwu Nnamani scored a total of 7,542 votes while Chief Uche Godfrey Nnaji scored 121 votes,” Okoye announced.
He described the exercise as transparent and orderly, stating that delegates freely exercised their democratic rights in a peaceful atmosphere.
“It was a transparent exercise conducted in line with our constitution and guidelines of our great party. The delegates exercised their democratic rights in an atmosphere of peace and orderliness,” he added.
In his acceptance speech, Nnamani thanked delegates and party leaders for what he described as a rancour-free process and extended an olive branch to his opponent.
“You are a good man and I invite you to come over so that together, we can achieve victory in 2027,” Nnamani said while addressing Nnaji and his supporters.
However, in a dramatic twist, another faction of the party announced a separate result declaring former minister Uche Nnaji as winner of the governorship primary.
According to the parallel result, Nnaji polled 7,424 votes to defeat Sampson Nnamani, who reportedly secured 600 votes.
The exercise was said to have been supervised by the chairman of the PDP State Gubernatorial Committee, Austin Nwachukwu, who commended party members for maintaining peace during the process.
Nwachukwu reportedly described the outcome as evidence of the PDP’s strength and preparedness for the 2027 governorship election in the state.
The former minister, who previously served in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, criticised what he described as excessive taxation and worsening economic hardship in the state.
“Our people have suffered greatly in the last three years due to excessive and obnoxious taxes. Landlords are groaning, hoteliers are struggling, commercial motorcyclists have virtually disappeared, and even petty traders are taxed,” he said.
Nnaji promised to pursue policies aimed at industrialisation, job creation, and economic recovery if elected governor.
“We will rebuild Enugu State and restore industries that can provide employment opportunities for our people. Government should support the less privileged rather than impose unbearable burdens on them,” he added.
The emergence of two conflicting results has now thrown the Enugu PDP governorship primary into uncertainty, with party members and political observers awaiting clarification from the national leadership of the PDP over the authentic candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
The development is expected to trigger legal and political battles within the party unless the leadership intervenes to resolve the dispute.
