ANAMBRA 2014: One office, multiple contenders

By CHINWEOKE AKOMA
In the run up to the November 16, 2013 governorship election in
AnambraState, virtually all the political parties and aspirants seem
yet to find their rhythm. The election holds barely 90 days away to
elect Gov Peter Obi's successor.
Analysts blame the scenario on the delay by the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) in releasing the guidelines and timetable
for the election.
The aspirants had been cautions not torun foul of the laws, or be
seen as jumping the gun when the Commission had not given the green
light to start campaigns. The green light finally came some three
weeks ago. The contest is characterised by intrigues and scheming by
the various political blocs and camps.
The PDP is one of the most visible parties in the state, but grapples
with efforts at self-rediscovery. The party is besetted with crisis
over whether or not President Goodluck Jonathan will seek re-election
in 2015. The North says he should not. Anambra must be high on the
PDP agenda as it remains the arrowhead to determine where the
South-east geo-political zone goesin the 2015 polls. So, with the
state's governorship election fast approaching, the party must stand
firm, for obvious political reasons.
Now, those who have not been part of the politics in Anambra for many
years are said to have stormed to the Wadata House headquarters of
the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to pick the Expression of
Interest(EOI) form. The fee went up from the N250,000 in 2009 to N1
million for the Anambra guber ticket.
MASSIVE PURCHASE
But this has not dampened the spirit ofthe about 27 aspirants jostling
for the PDP ticket, even as more than half are said to be women, one
of them a hairdressing salon operator in Awka. Atleast two aspirants
have been accused of massive purchase of the form for their respective
camps.
Alleged abuse of the free access of the PDP female aspirants to the
nomination form is also said to be generating ripples and may force
the party to review the policy. Wadata Plaza sources said the fee for
the nomination form could go up as high as between N10m and N20m for
each aspirant. The hike, it is believed, wouldhelp keep unserious
aspirants, proxiesand stooges out of the race.
Primary election will obviously determine who picks the PDP ticket
forthe Anambra guber race. But the allegation that two aspirants have
acquired the nomination form for about ten of their supporters is
causing tension.
Analysts say the move may be a designto put a clog in the wheel of the
primary election stated for August 24. The game plan was to put the
PDP in a situation whereby there will be a repeat of the primary. "In
the end, theywould use their contacts at the WadataPlaza to settle for
a consensus candidate option, hoping that that would favour them more,
having already watered the grounds well in that direction,"a source
familiar with the race for the PDP ticket in the state
said."Alternatively, they would bamboozle the party headquarters into
inviting allthe 'aspirants' to Abuja where the matter would be
resolved through internal mechanism. This includes but not likely to
be limited to asking the 'aspirants' to vote among themselves to
choose who they want to fly the party's flag at the Nov 16
governorship election in the state. Of course the outcome would be
foreclosed as each 'aspirant' would simply vote for his/her sponsor."
Some of the guber aspirants, especially in the PDP, are reportedly
being sponsored by some northern elements with a view to using them
toattempt to scuttle President Goodluck Jonathan's 2015 agenda.
Analysts say Aso Rock may consider backing the aspirant without
political blemish or baggage.
TOP ON LIST
The analysts said of all those jostling for the PDP ticket, only
Walter Ubaka Okeke and Alex Obiogbolu are excitingthe party's big
wigs. But Okeke, according to them, remains top on the list as he fits
perfectly into the battle to pick the PDP ticket because he is said to
be well-heeled with a deep pocket, well-read, psychologically
verystable, and a key player in the Nigeria's big oil/gas services
sector since 1995.
His businesses are domiciled in the Niger Delta. He was said to have
been paying to the governments an annual tax in the region of millions
of naira, asagainst other contestants who pay peanuts and only for the
sake of the gubernatorial election process requirement. He is
reportedly married from either Bayelsa or Rivers.
While Obiogbolu reportedly has what it takes to govern the state, the
larger section of Anambra's 177 communities is said not to be
favourably disposed to someone from his area due to socialreasons. But
he is seen as capable and qualified with immense
administrativeexperience in government business. Obiogbolu is a
reputable medical officer and successful businessman who has a lot of
enduring legacies to his credit in the state's civil service.
Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, a close confidant of a South-south governor,
issaid to be among those who have not visited the state in the last
10years. It seems his only reason for picking the form is because one
of the key players in the PDP politics urges him on. Unfortunately,
the present political equation of the state does not favour his
aspiration, as he comes from the Central zone like the outgoing
Governor Obi and former Gov. Ngige.
NASS MEETING
For Senator Andy Uba, it was said that he has been working against the
emergence of the PDP candidate based on primary election. Sources
accused him of moving to upstage all other aspirants undemocratically.
He was alleged to have held meetings with his 'aspirants' in Abuja.
Some serving and former members of the House of Representatives
including Ben Nwankwo, Fort Dike, Eucharia Azodo and Lynda Ikpeazu
allegedly attended the meetings recently. Thesemeetings were described
as historical as it was the first to be held between the senator and
Reps as a group since their inauguration in the National Assembly.
Chief Mike Okoye, a successful legal practitioner, was alleged to be
relying on his friendship with the former Governor Diepreye
Alameseigha to grab the PDP ticket. Unfortunately his political
traducers are quick to point out that he once held sway in Hope
Democratic Party but let go of it when it mattered most, hence
political watchers wonder what he really wantsthis time around.
RELIGION FACTOR
Dr Obinna Uzor remains a close friend of former President Gen Ibrahim
Babangida, and also does not hide his penchant to cling to anything
Catholic. That's why he has been going round building parishes for his
beloved faith. Analysts say he may at the end of the day realise why
the holy book warns that in heaven, there is no Catholic, Anglican or
Pagan.
Elders of the party in Anambra State are said to be rooting for a
holistic review of the input each of the aspirants has made to the
growth or otherwise of the party in the past ten years.
Some of the aspirants were alleged to have sowed confusion and crises
in thePDP only to run into another party. It isfeared that they are on
the familiar move again, knowing fully well that the Bamanga Tukur-led
PDP is not kidding on enthroning internal democracy and discipline.
Anambra is among the few states to have about four citizens in the
party's Board of Trustees(BOT)-Dr Alex Ekwueme, Senator Onyeabor Obi,
ChiefMaxwell Okudoh and Mrs Iyom Josephine Anenih. They cannot be
indifferent about who runs their state as governor, hence must be
interestedin this contest.
GRASSROOTS SUPPORT
Any serious contender for the Anambragovernorship ought to go round
the state to express his/her interest to run in the November 16
election. Investigations show that only Walter Okeke, Obiogbolu and
Tony Nwoye have done so.Analysts believe than when all the factors are
considered, the PDP may end up with a dark horse like Walter Okeke,
said to be surefooted and firmly etched in business and politics of
the state. He is said to be miles ahead of the Ubas, the Ukachukwus
and the Soludos as he has in the course of his 326 ward tours
displayed an unusual mastery of the state geography and political
idiosyncrasies of the various zones. And going by the pronouncements
of the party's national chairman during the inauguration of Gov
Seriake Dickson-led PDP Reconciliation Committee, they are very
prepared to reclaim Anambra among other states the party lost.
INSIDE APGA
Gov Obi is believed to have President Jonathan's ears. Yet he is said
to be rooting for Prof Charles Soludo, a former CBN Governor, who
apparently left the PDP because he failed to get the nod of Mr
President, as the APGA candidate. This is clearly an ambush forwhoever
Mr President's PDP nominates.
As he counts days to his departure and after working so hard to
dismember his APGA, Obi is said to be playing church politics card. He
wants his Catholic faith to dominate others with mind-boggling ratio
in virtually everything in the state. To achieve his aim this time, he
is said to be reconciling with his embattled national chairman, Chief
Victor Umeh, afellow Catholic, using Soludo, also a Catholic, as the
bargaining chip.
Soludo too is said to be ready to reconcile with his sister in-law,
Prof Dora Akunyili, also a Catholic, to upstage the looming political
volcano APGA being foisted by the elements in PDP. It was for this
reason the former Central Bank chief recently dumped the PDP for APGA,
just like Akunyili. They are Catholics, and are all very qualified, no
doubt. They fit properly into the out-going governor's 'all-Catholic'
profile agenda.
Close watchers of events in Anambra contend that the lack of
geo-balance and respect for the sensibilities of the electorate by the
key players in the newly formed All Progressives Congress(APC) is the
greatest headache its most visible aspirant, Dr Chris Ngige, would
have. In addition, many of those who were close to him have vowed to
oppose him,this time. Their reasons are similar and personal-they
allege he underrates loyalty. His upcoming APC is equally accused of
lacking sense of fair distribution of anything, not even the party
positions.
MANY WARS
Ifeanyi Ubah is an energetic young man with visible burning zeal to
betterthe lot of the masses, but the Nigerian factor is alleged to
have become his greatest undoing. He may have issues of security
clearance ahead of the election. He has too many wars on his hands
with federal agencies.