As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries for the Anambra state governorship election holds Saturday, June 26, ABDULRAHMAN ZAKARIYAU takes a look at the aspirants and the party’s chances and challenges at the forthcoming poll.
Anambra State was carved out from the then of East Central State in 1976 by the General Murtala Mohammed regime with capital at Enugu.
A state creation exercise by the General Ibrahim Babangida regime on August 27, 1991, furtehr divided Anambra into two states, Anambra and Enugu.
Since the creation of the state, which name was inspired by the term Omambala, the Igbo name of the Anambra River which flows through the area and is a tributary of the River Niger, ‘Light of the nation’, Anambra state has had 20 governors who.
Cumulatively, it has had nine democratically elected governors from 1979 to 1983. Jim Nwobodo, of the Nigerian Peoples Party (N,PP) served as the first democratically elected governor, then Christian Onoh, of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), served as governor between October 1983 to December 1983.
From January 1992 to 17 November 1993, Chukwuemeka Ezeife held sway as governor having been elected on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
With the return of democracy in 1999, Chinwoke Mbadinuju of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was elected governor and served between 29 May 29, 1999, and May 29, 2003.
He was succeeded by Chris Ngige, also of the PDP, from May 29, 2003, to March 17, 2006. Between March 17, 2006, and November 3, 2006, Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) held sway.
Virginia Etiaba became governor between 3 November 3, 2006, and February 9, 2007, when the incumbent, Peter Obi, was impeached by the Anambra State House of Assembly for alleged gross misconduct.
She, however, returned the reigns top Obi three months later when an Appeal Court judgement nullified the impeachment.
Interestingly, following the Appeal Court judgement nullification of the impeachment Peter Obi served as governor from February 9, 2007, to March 17, 2014.
On his part, the incumbent Governor of Anambra state, Willie Obiano, was elected and sworn-in on March 17, 2014, on the platform of APGA. Notably, APGA has spent almost 15 years in office as against the PDP seven years in office, however, the performance of APGA in the last 15 years and the internal crisis within the party, may have attracted 16 aspirants scrambling for the party’s ticket.
The aspirants
It is a known fact that on every street in Anambra state there is a millionaire. This could perhaps explain why 16 people did not find it difficult to cough out N1 million for the PDP Expression of Interest Form and N20 million for the Nomination Form.
The party in a bid to meet the UN affirmative action by encouraging women to seek elective office, the three female aspirants paid a total sum of N18 million only, while 13 male aspirants paid a total of N338 million for the Expression of Interest, Compliance Form, and Nomination Form, bringing the total sum generated for the sale of forms to N356 million.
The aspirants have been successfully screened to participate in Saturday’s primary election to be conducted by the former Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada (retd.) committee.
They include: the lawmaker representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Uche Ekwunife; the Chairman, United Nigeria Airlines, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo; lawmaker representing Nnewi South/Nnewi North/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, Hon. Chris Azubogu; and Architect Winston Udeh.
Others include: the 2017 Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tony Nwoye, who recently defected to the PDP; Valentine Ozigbo; Godwin Ezeemo; Emeka Etiaba; Mrs. Chidi Onyemelukwe; Godwin Maduka; Mrs. Genevieve Ekwochi; Dr. Ifedi Okwena; Ugochukwu Uba; and Walter Ubaka Okeke.
Ekwunife, Azubogu, Okonkwo stand out
Of all the 16 aspirants, a political analyst who is conversant with Anambra state politics has insisted that Aviation Tycoon, Dr Okonkwo; lawmaker representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Ekwunife; and the lawmaker representing Nnewi South/Nnewi North/Ekwusigo federal constituency, Hon. Azubogu. In other words, one of them will likely clinch the party’s ticket.
Ekwunife
Senator Ekwunife has, over the years, nurtured her political structure which is now visible and influential in the party, even as she is considered a very strong politician and grassroots mobiliser.
However, one major factor against her aspiration by many is in the issue of zoning, though she is from Igbo-Ukwu in Aguta local government of the state in Southern senatorial zone but married to Chief Larry Ekwunife (Ochendo) from Anaocha in the central part, the zone which she currently represents at the senate.
Though the party has not made any statements concerning zoning, political observers believed this may work in favour or against Senator Ekwunife’s chances.
Azubogu
Hon. Azubogu has over the years maintained his political structure in the state; he has also reached out to many ‘Anambarians’ with through medical outreach which is believed may count in his favour during the primary.
Answering questions on his chances recently, Azubogu said: “Anambra state is yearning for someone with the requisite experience to change the status quo. I have consulted with all stakeholders across the political parties, business, cultural elite, opinion leaders and ordinary Anambrarians.
“The outcome was overwhelmingly positive and spectacularly encouraging. And if the wishes of the Almighty God aligns with the wishes of Ndi Anambra on taking the state to greater heights, I will become the next governor of Anambra state come March 17, 2022.”
Okonkwo, Maduka: Money may do it
Political observers, who understand the Anambra politics, believe money may play a huge role in determining the winner of the PDP governorship primary election.
They are of the view that aviation tycoon Okonkwo and the founder of the Las Vegas Pain Institute and Medical Centre, Dr Godwin Maduka, could spring surprises given the financial muscle.
Okonkwo parades one of the finest credentials in the line-up for PDP ticket and commands respect among other aspirants within his senatorial zone. On his chances of winning the party’s ticket, Okonkwo said: “I’m not telling you we will win, but how we will win. We are very qualified to run on the ticket of PDP. The people you have been seeing are ‘I will’ people. You need a man who can win, a man who has been a thorough party man.
“I have been a PDP member for years, and since I joined, I have been here. There are a lot of qualified people seeking the ticket of PDP for the election, but what PDP needs now is not a good candidate or a better candidate. PDP needs the best of the best. That is why I’m offering myself for the job.”
However, some others are of the view that Maduka’s philanthropic projects across his community and other parts of the state including donating over 100 motorcycles to the unemployed and underprivileged members of his community; building and renovating a police stations, schools, barracks, homes for widows, hospitals, religious centres, post office; road construction, provision of scholarship to community residents to study at various universities both in Nigeria and abroad may count for him.
Maduka while expressing confidence on the outcome of the poll said: “I have been prepared all my life because this is part of who I am. I have never really changed. Preparedness in politics is knowing the people you are coming to serve.
“In Anambra today, everybody seems to be enjoying my company. It is not politics, it’s like a carnival. That is because I am among my people. I don’t like sadness in my life. I have the capacity to run my own campaign.”
Other contenders
Dr. Ude, who is an architect, Doctor of Law, and hails from Ndiowu in Orumba North Local Government; as well as Ozigbo of Amesi, Aguata LGA; are major contenders to the PDP governorship ticket.
Udeh, who is a wealthy politician and philanthropist, commands the respect of his constituents, the Catholic Church and the Youths. He has been providing the necessary financial support to the people of the state and the party. Across the state, Udeh is a strong name and currently has the backing of the influential party leaders to secure the ticket of the party in the state. Pundits have said that in a level playing field the pendulum may swing in his favour.
On his part, Ozigbo reputed for staying connected with his people, his roots and the Igbo culture despite his global fame, understands the politics of Anambra, Ozigbo and cannot be a push over.
Party leadership assures on fairness, equity, justice
The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, has said winning Anambra state was key to its plans for the winning the 2023 general elections, even as he assured that there must fairness, equity and justice in the conduct of the primary.
Speaking recently at the Anambra stakeholders and aspirants meeting with member of the National Working Committee (NWC), Secondus said: “We had to call this meeting for to interact and interface. And as usual, each time we have off season elections, they are always very stormy, they are very tough. But when it is tough, we will get going.”
The chairman of the leading opposition party added, “You know that never in the history of our party that we have experience this divisive tendencies and our people living apart from each other, fighting each other.
“We are here, basically, for us to make sure first and foremost that all our leaders and all our aspirants are in unity. It is very important for this trying period and you know the period, we are in.
“Anambra is the key to the mission of rescuing Nigeria. Anambra is the key to the mission to bring all Nigerians together. To rebuild our country again from the hands of the APC that has destroyed our country.
“Anambra is the economic key of our country. And we must conduct our affairs to show the world that PDP is different and ready to rescue this country. That is why we are to interact with leaders of our party are here.
“At the end of this meeting, I think we will go home happily that on Saturday it will be the freest congresses that has been conducted.
“So, Anambra, we want to advice, we want to call our people the time to put down ourselves is now. This is the time to look at each other. We must not allow both Anambra and our country to fail. We must show that good example.
“You have been leading in several areas, you must lead politically now. Our leaders must be statesman. They must look beyond and individual and narrow interest. It is time for us to look at Nigeria. If we get it wrong, the consequences will be great. It will reflect on other parts of the country
“The country is passing through very difficult and trying period. The insecurity, especially all around the country everywhere is war front but in the East, we know what it is. We must not take it either for granted or any other place any other way anybody will think about.
“We have serious problems. And the only way to get out of it is to make sure that things are done properly. Let there be fairness and equity and justice, which is in deficit in our country. And that is what the PDP stands for.
“We stand for fairness, equity and justice, under the rule of law. This is a party that believes that all Nigerians are one. We must live together as brothers and sisters.’’
