Anambra PDP Guber Aspirants Face Tax Hurdle

Governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the October 2, 2009 gubernatorial primary in Anambra State may have a big hurdle to cross as the party has rolled out tax requirements that have thrown most of them into panic.
The aspirants currently undergoing screening at the Enugu zonal office of the party are being mandated to produce three years tax clearance certificates.
THISDAY gathered that the screening committee headed by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Jubrin Maigari, is insisting that all the aspirants must present the tax certificates either from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) or any other relevant state tax agency.
According to a source, the committee said the 51 governorship aspirants who obtained and submitted the nomination forms must present tax certificates for 2006, 2007 and 2008.
“Some of the aspirants, indeed a greater percentage of the aspirants before us don’t have the three-year tax clearance of 2006, 2007 and 2008. Some of them claim that the time the guidelines came out was too sudden.
“There is nothing we could do on time as payment of tax is a civic duty and any responsible citizen must show evidence that he or she has performed this aspect of this civic duty,” the source stated.
The source further said: “If the rules and the guidelines of the party are stringently followed, over 60 per cent of the aspirants may not pass the three-year tax hurdle.”
However, the source said the Maigari committee would have no alternative than to stick to the rule of the game, adding that any of the aspirants who is not happy with the requirements could appeal the decision of the committee.
The party has also set up an Appeal Committee headed by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.
Meanwhile, about 49 of the aspirants were yesterday accredited for screening by the Maigari committee at the Nike Late Resort Hotel, Enugu.
The screening was conducted in camera as journalists were barred from witnessing the exercise.
The PDP South-east Zonal Organising Secretary, Dr. Onudugo Ifeanyi Chris, told THISDAY at the screening centre that the party decided to conduct the screening in camera because it was an internal affair of the party.
He said there was no problem so far as the aspirants had been cooperative and everything conducted according to plans and details contained in the party’s constitution and guidelines.
About 20 aspirants had been screened as at the time of going to press.
One of those already screened, Chief Okey Muo-Aroh, a lawyer, told THISDAY that aspirants were being asked to defend the certificates they presented, their motivations for vying for the governorship position of Anambra State.
Others also screened included Chief Basil Iwuoba, Dr. Amanchukwu Ezeike, Dr. Harry Ohanezi, Mr. Chuman Nwofor, Dr. Emeka Eze, Chief Michael Okechukwu, Okolo Damian, Senator Annie Okonkwo, Dim Ifeanyichukwu, Emoh Uchenna Pius and Egwu Princess Kate. There were slaod Barr. Odidika Kenneth Osita P, Nwandu Emeka Gibson, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, Valentine Ozigbo, Comrade Tony Nwoye, Uba Ukechinyere, Obiagoli Obasi, Victor Osita and Senator Ikechukwu Obiora.
Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Chukwuma Soludo and former Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Prof. Ilochi Okafor (SAN), were said to have been sighted early at the screening venue but left.