By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Barely 24 hours to the primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a chieftain of the party, Barr Ike Oligbo, on Friday called on the party executive to prune down the number of aspirants fighting for the ticket.

He said such could be achieved if the party appeals to some of the aspirants to step down for others.

Sixteen aspirants are expected to slug it out today for the party’s ticket.

They include, Dr Godwin Maduka, Mrs Chidi Onyemelukwe, Senator Uche Ekwunife, Hon Chuma Nzeribe, Dr Obiora Okonkwo, Engr Chris Azubogu, Val Ozigbo, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, Senator Ugochukwu Uba and Ifedi Okwenna.

Others are; Hon Tony Nwoye, Bar Emeka Etiaba, Johnny Maduafokwa, Barr Winston Udeh, Walter Okeke and Mrs. Genevieve Ekwochi.

Oligbo who is a former governorship aspirant urged the 16 aspirants of the party to negotiate among themselves and find a way of reducing the number of aspirants for the contest on order to ease management.

Speaking to journalists in Awka, the PDP chieftain said, "It would be fair if the party goes to the primary election on Saturday with fewer aspirants. It would be easier for the party to manage.

“I am aware of peace accords and various meetings that the aspirants have held, which include plans to help them make negotiations and prune their numbers.

“Politics is politics and people will disagree. What the party can do is to appeal for some of them to step down for others.

“If an agreement can be reached, we may have just four aspirants, and that will be easy to manage. Let them talk among themselves and get who they feel is capable of winning the November 6 election for the party.”

He called on party delegates to choose someone with tenacity and acceptability to win.

“I am sure there is a process to prune down the number of aspirants. They have been holding meetings and when we go for the election tomorrow, we may just hear that some have stepped down for the others,” Oligbo added.