Though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is yet
to issue a precise time-table for the conduct of the next gubernatorial
election in Anambra state that would produce a successor to incumbent
governor, Peter Obi in March 2014, the state is already awash with
posters and billboards of prospective contestants from across the three
senatorial zones of the state. But the people of Anambra North
Senatorial zone insist that it is their turn to occupy the exalted
political position in the state. How far they can go is better left at
the realm of conjecture. NGWUJA UGWOKE writes.
By the last quarter of this year, the electorate in Anambra state
would queue up to elect a successor to the incumbent governor, Peter
Obi. Obi is currently serving out his second term in office. So,
constitutionally, he is no longer qualified to re-contest. He is
expected to formally handover the baton of office at the Government
House, Awka, to an entirely new person on Monday, 17 March, 2014.
As expected, a motley crowd of aspirants are jostling to take over
the gubernatorial baton from Obi. At the last count, more than 21
aspirants have overtly shown interest to occupy the No. 1 political
position in the state come 2014.
Incidentally, notwithstanding the strong agitation by the people of
the North senatorial zone for the governorship slot to be conceded
exclusively to only contestants from the zone on the basis that the zone
is yet to produce a governor- an argument which the incumbent Governor
Obi also strongly supports - those already known to have started dusting
their campaign machinery for the governorship contest, however, cut
across the three senatorial zones of the state.
For instance, those who have already mounted their campaign
billboards and posters from the Central senatorial zone include, Uche
Ekwunife, current member representing Aniocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia
federal constituency in the House of Representatives and chairman, House
Committee on Environment. She contested the governorship election in
2010 on the platform of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA).
Others from the zone whose billboards and posters adorn strategic
places in the state are, Chief Emma Nweke, a multi-millionaire
businessman and Chief Joe Ikebudu. Both of them are natives of Awka, the
state capital. Nweke aspired to fly the flag of the All Progressives
Grand Alliance (APGA), in Awka North and South federal constituency in
the last general election, but couldn’t clinch it.
Others expected to join the governorship race from the Central
senatorial zone include Chief Kodilichukwu Okelekwe, an Abuja –based
multi-millionaire businessman; Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, former
governor of the state, and currently senator representing Anambra
Central senatorial zone in the upper legislative house and Senator
Annie Okonkwo.
And from Anambra North Senatorial zone, those whose campaign
billboards for the governorship race already dot strategic locations in
the state, especially in the major cities, including Awka, Onitsha,
Nnewi and Ekwulobia, are, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, who currently
represents Ogbaru Federal constituency in the House of Representatives,
and Patrick Obianwu, a Lagos –based estate surveyor. Others from the
zone whose political foot- soldiers have hit the ground to mobilize
support for their aspirations are, Nnamdi Egweogwu, a Commissioner in
the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC);
Chief Chike Obidigbo, an Industrialist; Chief Goddy Ibekwe, former
President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in
the state; Chief Willy Obiano, former Executive Director , Fidelity Bank
Plc; Chief Dubem Obaze, former Commissioner for Local Government and
Chieftaincy Matters in the state; Mr. Oseloka Obaze, current
Secretary to the State Government (SSG); Mr. Mike Udah, current Chief
Press Secretary (CPS)to the state governor; Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, former
governorship candidate of the now de-registered African Political
System (APS) in the 2010 governorship election and General Manager of
the state Environmental Protection Agency (ANSEPA) ; Princess Stella
Oduah, current Aviation Minister and Chief Paul Odenigbo, former SSG.
And from Anambra South senatorial zone, those who have literally
littered the state with their campaign billboards are, Dr Obinna Uzor,
chairman and chief executive officer, GOCUZ Group of Companies and Andy
Uba, former special assistant to erstwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo,
and currently, senator representing the zone in the National Assembly.
Other politicians from the zone who are believed to be gearing up to
join the fray include Professor Charles Soludo, former governor of the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Soludo contested the gubernatorial race
in the state in 2010 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party
(PDP), but lost to the incumbent governor. Chief George Muoghalu,
former National Secretary of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and
the party’s governorship candidate in the state in 2003 and Chief
Ifeanyi Ubah, chairman, Capital Oil and Gas, are also believed to be
prospective contenders to the office of governor.
Interestingly, the array of aspirants who have so far indicated
interest in the governorship contest, appear to have adopted a new
political strategy to woo the electorate to their respective camps.
Unlike in the past, the prospective contestants have refused to recruit
gangsters to scare away their perceived opponents, an indication that
the forthcoming election would be relatively free from rancor and
bitterness.
Basically, except Ogene, Ekwunife and Obianwu whose campaign
billboards carried the APGA logo, indicating the party platform under
which they intend to contest the election, others, including senator
Uba, Obinna Uzor, albeit members of the PDP, did not indicate any
political party. Against this backdrop, it seems difficult to predict
for now, possible candidates of the major political parties who are
really on ground in the state as well as which of them would be the
party to beat in the election.
Out of all the political parties registered by the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC), only three actually have strong
followership in the state. They are APGA, the ruling party in the state,
PDP and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
The consensus here is that the chances of any of the major political
parties emerging the winner in the election would depend on the
credibility of its candidate as well as its ability to conduct free and
fair primaries.
These considerations notwithstanding, political watchers, however,
believe that the APGA has brighter chances of retaining the governorship
seat. The achievements of Governor Obi administration in the state have
endeared the party to majority of the citizens. Though Governor
Obi had rooted for the North Senatorial zone to produce his successor,
nevertheless, he made it clear that the decision of majority of the
citizens of the state would hold sway on the issue. The people of the
zone are insisting that since nobody from their area ever had the
opportunity of occupying the governorship seat since the state was
created about 22 years ago, “equity, fairness and justice demand that
the seat should be conceded to their zone in the forthcoming election”,
they said.
About three political movements have been promoting the cause for the
emergence of a governor from the North come 2014. Among them are, Oga
N’Iru Ndi Anambra,being facilitated by Dr Alex Obiogbolu; Olu N’Adagbe,
led by former chairman of Awka North local government area, Chief
Shedrack Anakwe. Incidentally, Anakwe is from the Central senatorial
zone. Olu N’Adagbe is a socio-cultural-cum-political group that promotes
the affinity of about 12 local governments in the state. The local
governments include the entire seven local governments that make up the
North, including Anambra East, Anambra North, Ayamelu, Ogbaru, Onitsha
North, Onitsha South and Oyi as well as five in the Central which are,
Awka North, Awka south, Anaocha, Dunukofia and Njikoka. Another group is
known as “Equity Group” under the leadership of the Transition
Committee Chairman of Ayamelum local government, Tony Ifeanya, a lawyer.
Though, Prince Ken Emeakayi, state chairman of the PDP, said that his
party believes in zoning, whether or not his party would heed to the
demand by the people of the North would be left to the party’s caucus to
determine. He however, insisted that no matter whichever zone the
candidate of the party hails from, such a person must emerge through a
process that would not elicit rancor within the party.
But political watchers in the state are of the strong view that it is
not likely for candidates from the other zones to concede the
governorship slot to the North since those who earlier won the
governorship from their areas never got it through zoning, but through
their personal efforts.
