The People's Democratic Party (PDP), led by Taminu Turaki, has produced a third governorship candidate for the 2027 elections in Enugu State. Mr. Dona Nwogbo emerged as the party's flagbearer following a direct primary election conducted across all 260 wards in the state.
Nwogbo becomes the third candidate to emerge from the PDP in Enugu, following former Minister Uche Nnaji and businessman Sampson Nnamani, who had earlier secured the party's nomination from separate factional primaries.
Other Candidates Declared
In addition to the governorship candidate, the PDP also declared candidates for other positions. Basil Aguigwo, Nwatu Anthony, and Asogwa Beatrice clinched the senatorial tickets for Enugu West, Enugu East, and Enugu North districts, respectively. For the House of Representatives, the party fielded Isaac Onoyima (Igboeze South/Nsukka), Nwatu Chukwudi (Nkanu East/West), Lillian Ugwuoke (Enugu East/Isiuzo), Onoja Uchechukwu (Aninri/Awgu/Oji River), Nnaji Erobuike (Enugu North/South), Cosmas Onyia (Udi/Ezeagu), Anikezie Michael (Igbo Etiti/Uzouwani), and Eze Ephraim (Udenu/Igboeze North), among others for the House of Assembly.
Returning Officer's Remarks
Announcing the results in Enugu on Thursday, the party's Returning Officer for the Enugu State primaries, Dr. Yarima Edachaba, stated, "By the grace of God, you can see that we have declared the winners of this primaries. By next year, the election itself will commence in full. The turnout was massive in the places we visited. There was no violence or fight in any way."
Party Chairman's Statement
Acting State Chairman of the party, Steve Oruruo, described the exercise as the "final collation of the PDP primaries which emanated from different wards via direct primaries." He added, "It was a glamorous outing that marked the end of elections in terms of primaries. This is the quality of PDP that was presented without rancour and with a sense of equity and fairness. Leadership recruitment process should determine the coloration of quality leadership. So the warped value and poor leadership threat that we have witnessed over the years are just mere products of bad primaries of parties. Today we have presented a primary devoid of rancour, quarrel and skirmishes."
When asked about other factions that have produced governorship candidates, Oruruo said, "Enugu has never had any crisis in the PDP. The leadership of this party exists courtesy of the court secured judgement that has never been vacated in the High Court. Beyond this, the Supreme Court nailed it in the final judgement and clearly made it very visible that it is the BOT led by former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara that controls the PDP and that leadership has since appointed leaders at the national level to man positions in the PDP and they are in charge of the processes today. So any other thing violates the law and is tantamount to nullity before the law. So any other party acting contrary to the stipulation of the Supreme Court is acting null and void and of no effect."
Oruruo commended the unity and peace demonstrated by party members throughout the exercise, stressing that the PDP remains the only party that has worked for the betterment of the country.
