Ex-Forbes recipient, Nwuneli, pulls out of ADC Deputy Governorship race

African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said it is still consulting widely with stakeholders to get a formidable Anambra State Gubernatorial team that will meet up with the yearnings and aspirations of the people with a view to bringing great progress and development to the state.

The party made this view known yesterday as a Havard-trained entrepreneur and 2011 Forbes’ Youngest Most Powerful Women in Africa, Mrs Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli has announced her unavailability to participate in the race for the Deputy Governorship race on the party’s platform.

The media have been awash that Nwuneli was among ten outstanding personalities shopped by the party to participate as running mate to ADC’s Governorship candidate, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, for the November 6, 2021 election.

But Orient Daily learnt that Mrs Nwuneli has opted out of the race, and has wished the party well in its strive to capture the state’s Government House and improved on the lots of the masses.

Confirming the indisposition of Nwuneli to accept the offer to seek for the running mate position, National Director of Communications and Programs of ADC, Ifenla Oligbinde, a lawyer, denied the report in the media that the party had lobbied and had ten contenders jostling for the Deputy Governorship position.

In a press statement issued by the party’s image maker, a copy of which was made available to newsmen, yesterday, Ifenla clarified: “No one has, or will ever lobby or jostle for the Deputy Governors slot in ADC, it is not our style.”

The statement noted that though the party’s Head of Search Team in the person of the National Chairman, Chief Ralphs Okey Nwosu had reached out to many credible personalities to show acceptance to the offer to run, but Mrs. Nwuneli declined to accept the offer and wished the party well.

The party’s image maker observed that the Head of Search Team, and National Chairman, Chief Okey Nwosu, in expression of his passion for Anambra State and good governance and commitment to pull the best amongst Anambra youths and persons into governance to give the state its best chance for development, had consulted widely to have persons considered of impeccable character in absolute privacy and confidentiality.

But she asserted: “No one has, or will ever lobby or jostle for the Deputy Governor slot in ADC, it is not our style. We have a value-driven protocol that guides our processes.”

Ifenla disclosef that, for the forthcoming Anambra Elections, “there are certain parameters needed to balance the team to be presented for the elections, pointing out that consultations are still ongoing in preparation for the final screening of a candidate.

“Whilst it is true that our search team reached out to many persons including Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli, none of them were or are ‘jostling’ to be Deputy Governor.

“ADC is known to have transparency and integrity in her DNA as was seen in the emergence of our gubernatorial candidate, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, in the most peaceful and credible electoral process.

“The same process will be adopted again, as ADC is ‘not for sale’ or known for ‘money bags’ rancorous approach, as is currently being witnessed in other political parties that ought to lead by example. “