Senator Ayogu Eze has raised the alarm over alleged attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State to intimidate it out of the 2015 governorship race in the state.

In a statement signed by the legal adviser of his governorship campaign organisation, Mr. Kingsley Onyeke, the organisation said the party had descended on its candidate for daring to object to an attempt by the party to impose a predetermined candidate ahead of the November 29 governorship primaries in the state.

It said: ‘’It has come to its attention that party officials at the local government and ward levels at their candidate’s senatorial district are being coerced to sign prepared texts which were shipped down from Enugu alleging that they support the contrived consensus candidate of the party.’’

Arguing that election remains the only distinguishing feature of any democracy, the organisation wondered why the PDP in the state was afraid of primaries which it said would afford the people of the state the opportunity to choose a candidate after their heart.

Onyeke urged the party officials to resist any attempt by anybody to force them to sign documents sent to them by anybody, reminding them of the oath they swore to provide a level playing field for aspirants to all positions in the state.

He also appealed to the governor who is the leader of the party in the state to call the party to order and ensure that every aspirant is afforded a chance to market himself or herself to the party members.’’

Restating its earlier objection to any attempt to smuggle in a candidate for the party through the back door, the organisation pledged its unflinching loyalty to the party and its leader in the state, Governor Sullivan Chime.

Eze had at a news conference in Abuja weekend, faulted the process that led to the endorsement of Ugwuanyi, representing Udenu/Igbo-Eze North Federal Constituency as the PDP consensus governorship candidate of the Enugu-North senatorial district where the party zoned its governorship ticket to, describing it as “a meeting of a gathering of people of my senatorial district.”

The senator said: ‘’I wish to state clearly and unambiguously that I’ve not and will not step down for any anointed candidate.

‘’I’m still squarely in the race for the Enugu Lion Building in the year of our Lord 2015. I was invited to a meeting of a gathering of the people of my senatorial district presided over by the governor at the Governor’s Lodge in Enugu on Friday, September 26, 2014.’’

However,  reacting to the development, a member, Board of Trustees (BoT), of the party from the state, Ambassador Justina Eze condemned Eze’s stance over Ugwuanyi’s endorsement.

Mrs Eze who said that she participated in the senatorial district caucus meeting where Ugwuanyi was adopted, described Ayogu’s comments as unfortunate and a strange act that should not be encouraged in the interest of the people of the senatorial district who have been yearning for a sense of belonging in the affairs of the state, adding that due process was followed.

Also reacting to the development, Dr. Godsmark Ugwu, who said that he stepped down for Ugwuanyi, described Senator Eze’s comments as ‘’a great sign of mischief,’’ saying that the decision was unanimous.