Anambra 2021 and early-bird politicians

OKECHUKWU ONUEGBU in this piece catalogues the aspirants to the Anambra Government House angling to succeed Willie Obiano

Like a cloud on the sky, they are gathering in the political firmament. The men and women of worth have started declaring interest to contest the Anambra State 2021 gubernatorial poll.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would soon make public a date for the poll, which, expectedly, hold on November 2021 since the lameduck, Governor Willie Obiano, is to end his second term journey on March 17, 2022.

Obiano, of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), has vowed to handover to an APGA contestant. The party equally zoned its governorship seat to Anambra South in the principle of power rotation. Opposition political parties namely, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressive Congress (APC), among others, are already kicking against the political zoning arrangement.

Interestingly, the former governor of the state, Mr Peter Obi (now a PDP) was the instrumental to the zoning, when the going was good.

As a governor under APGA, Obi insisted that power must rotate to Anambra north, it did come to pass as he subsequently annointed Obiano from the zone as the party’s flag bearer. At the end of APGA’s governorship primary in 2013, PDP had no choice than to pick someone from the same zone in the person of former student leader, Comrade Tony Nwoye.

Other political parties toed same line with an exception of the then newly registered APC which fielded Senator Chris Ngige (from Anambra Central) and Mr Godwin Ezeemo (from Anambra South) of Progressive Peoples Congress (PPA).

Obiano was to retain his seat for a second term in Anambra 2017 gubernatorial poll which had almost all political parties including PDP and APC fielding candidates from the same Anambra north senatorial zone.

He was the first man from Anambra to be saddled with the affairs of the state and would expectedly remain grateful as finishes in 8 years.

Anambra Central, on the other hand, had since creation of the state on August 27, 1991 produced two governors namely, Dr Chris Ngige (2003 to 2006) and Mr Peter Obi (2006 to 2014). Anambra South senatorial zone had Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife (January 1992 to November 1993), and Same Virgy Etiaba, a Deputy governor who held sway when Obi was impeached on November 2006 to September 2007 when court reinstated him.

As the state awaits for the INEC date, stakeholders, pressure groups and other interested groups have risen to advocate for the South. The political terrain has charged and is continuously, witnessing new and old entrants or contestants to the political fora. Below are few of them and their chances.

Mr Godwin Chukwunenye Ezeemo:

Like an early bird, Ezeemo was first to boldly announce his intention to run for the gubernatorial poll, while making a gift of a bus and others to his party, PDP Anambra state stakeholders. The industrialist whose business empire is located in Anambra state, is a publisher, farmer and an international business tycoon. The Umuchu, Aguata LGA born has allegedly sponsored many politicians across political parties but could not win the APC primary in 2013 even though he was among its major sponsors during the merger of ACN, ANPP, CPC, a faction of APGA and New-PDP.

Not satisfied with the outcome of the APC governorship primary, he joined PPA as a flag bearer. It was even alleged that former governor Obi begged him to contest as Deputy to Obiano but he refused. Ezeemo and his PPA came 5th on 2013 governorship poll.

He recontested in 2017 via same PPA and came 4th. He cross-carpeted to PDP in 2018 and declared to be the party’s governorship hopeful in 2019. All his former PPA state Executive council, State Working Committee and some if not all the LGA and ward officials were at the event insisting to accord him maximum support.

He stands a better chance for PDP ticket if popularity and quality of investment at home counts. Again, his people, Old Aguata Union (OAU), a political bloc is clamouring to produce a governor again. OAU comprises of Orumba north, Orumba South and Aguata LGAs, three council areas created out of defunct Aguata LGA. The densely populated area is where Ezeife, the first executive governor of Anambra state hails from.

However, analysts believed that Ezeemo’s chances of securing the PDP gubernatorial ticket is lean despite that he hails from the South. They contend that he is new in the party compared to years other aspirants would claim to have spent in the platform when the game gets tougher. Some argue that he is too pious to join politics. This could probably be because he is not a moneybag or unlikely to induce voters in disguise.  

Senator Lillian Uche Ekwunife:

Ekwunife is currently representing Anambra Central Senatorial zone. Her first attempt to represent the zone at the Senate was truncated at the Appeal Court in 2016. The banker turned politician is a two term House of Representative Member for Anaocha, Njikok and Dunukofia federal constituency where she chaired different committees. She also has other enterprises including a hotel. Her political gimmicks show she is on the race although her intention was yet to make headlines. She is from Igbo-Ukwu, Aguata LGA same community with Ezeife but married to Nri, Anaocha LGA. Sources from OAU alleged that she had started consulting stakeholders to endorse her aspiration given the fact that she is from Anambra South by birth although marriage now makes her an Anambra Central woman. In 2013, she contested for APGA governorship primary and came second. In 2010, she was the governorship candidate of  Other chances of the distinguished senator is that she is a grassroots woman and as such, enjoys support of many people at both urban and rural communities in Anambra state. However, her name might not see the light of the day if she eventually contest under PDP primary due to obvious reason that she is a woman. Some kingmakers in the state especially the traditional rulers and the religious leaders might not like to convince their followers to vote her at the party primary being aware that a governor qualifies to officiate and dine and win with them, an act most reserved for men.

Senator Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah

Ubah’s political movement, Afa-Igbo Efuna contributed to the success of Governor Willie Obiano’s second term bid. That movement also helped in sending him to the red chamber where he currently represent Anambra South senatorial zone. He won the election under Young Progressive Party (YPP), a newly registered political party. The Nnewi, Nnewi North LGA born oil magnet tried to be governor was the governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP) in 2013 during which he came fourth. Also, he was a gubernatorial aspirant of PDP on 2017 poll but was defeated by Sir Oseloka Obaze, who eventually took the ticket. The National Coordinator of TAN which rooted for return of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, also rooted for election of Governor Sanwo Olu (APC) in Lagos State, as well as supported emergency of the current leadership of the 9th Senate. Although he had not officially declare his intention to run for the number one seat of power in Anambra state, the ongoing inauguration of Afa-Igbo Afuna in all the 21 LGAs and 326 electoral wards, among others show that his eyes are on the thrown. But analysts believed that he can only succeed in flying the YPP ticket if he so wished but might not succeed in securing ticket of any other political party due to his political history of moving from one party to another and supporting even the opposition. And if he eventually pick YPP ticket, it may be difficult for him to win governor with it giving that majority of voters may find it difficult to locate YPP logo on the ballot.

Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo:

Soludo, a former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was the PDP frag bearer in 2010 but lost to Peter Obi of APGA. He decamped to APGA in 2013 to contest for the position but was disqualified by the party. He lied low politically thereafter.  Soludo boldly supported Obiano’s re-election in 2017. His controversial statement ‘if not broken, why mend it,’ which was a direct response to Oseloka Obaze, PDP candidate’s claims that Anambra state has broken under Obiano, showed that a sleeping tiger is not dead. In fact, when APGA and governor Obiano declared that power must return to south, majority believed that he would be the anointed candidate whenever APGA is holding its primary. He was equally appointed as head of the state’s 50 years economic plan inaugurated last year by the state governor. President Muhammadu Buhari also included him on his own federal government economic team. There are also many interest political pressure group canvassing for his election even when he was yet to publicly declare for the seat. He is from Isuofia, Aguata LGA.

High Chief Obiora Okonkwo (PhD):

Okonkwo is from Ogidi, Idemili North LGA. He has not make public his intention to run but his rising profile in politics and intellectual discourse was evident that he would likely go for PDP ticket.

Dr Godwin Maduka:

Maduka, a US based Medical Doctor, is from Umuchukwu, a community in Orumba South LGA, which he singlehandedly transformed to a city with many national and state establishments, infrastructure and others. He had in many occasion allegedly said he would be vying for the governorship position even though he was yet to make it official. He was among the pillars of APGA in 2017 and 2019 elections. But sources from PDP within OAU bloc alleged that he had equally briefed them of his intention to run. There are also people and pressure groups pushing for his gubernatorial ambition under PDP on social media.

Senator Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige

Ngige, current minister of Labour and Employment is one of the leaders of APC in South East geopolitical zone. He was first person to contest for governorship poll as APC flag bearer after its formation in 2013.  Ngige is a trained medical doctor, former Governor and former Senator, who represented Anambra central between 2011 to 2015.

 The Alor, Idemili South LGA born is likely to contest the 2021 Anambra state governorship poll given his recent comment on a national daily that people are begging him to contest and govern Anambra. His likely stumbling block would be his party, APC as it has not been officially and generally accepted by most voters in the state.

Meanwhile, other Anambra politicians  like Engr. Johnbosco Onunkwo (APC), Mr Stanley Uzochukwu and Comrade Peter Nwosu (both of APGA) and retinue of others may in due time reveal their interest on the 2021 gubernatorial poll considering their rising profiles and political gimmicks in recent time.

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