With only some months to the 2013 governorship race in Anambra State, EMMANUEL OBE, observes that uncertainties in the state's political landscape appear to be adversely affecting the start of electioneering
Almost four years ago, Anambra State political atmosphere was full of activities as governorship aspirants, candidates and their supporters crisscrossed the state in search of support from the electorate.
The Peoples Democratic Party provided most of the anxious moments with more than 60 politicians jostling for the governorship ticket of the party.
Politicians with deep pockets were ready to pay any price to get hold of the precious document. It was then believed that securing the party's endorsement was as good as winning the election. This confidence was derived from PDP's firm control of the Federal Government.
When the nomination and expression of interest forms were sold for N5.25m, 47 aspirants under the PDP paid and obtained theirs before the deadline. This further raised the stakes and the tension that built up towards the party's primary election, which eventually did not hold.
The anxious moments weren't less in the All Progressives Grand Alliance, whose factions were bolstered by conflicting tunes that came out of the then Maurice Iwu-led Independent National Electoral Commission that at one time would recognise Victor Umeh as National Chairman, while at another time would recognise Chekwas Okorie. Aspirants pursued their aspirations with equal zeal in the two factions of the party before Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu (now late) personally went to Abuja to get Iwu to give the nomination forms to Umeh.
The Action Congress of Nigeria however did not have the kind of crisis that faced the PDP and APGA because the prime motivator of the party in the state, Dr. Chris Ngige, was also vying for the governorship poll. The party's primary election was just a mere confirmation of his candidacy.
ACN's story was a replay in the African Democratic Congress where Chief Okey Nwosu, the founder and National Chairman of the party was the sole governorship aspirant. The All Nigeria Peoples Party was able to overcome its internal strife to produce Chief Mike Ejezie, until then the state chairman as the party's candidate.
The other parties like the Labour Party, Hope Democratic Party, the Peoples Progress Alliance and a few others, just waited in the wings to welcome aggrieved candidates from the PDP and the other major parties to field in the election. And so it turned out that Dr. Andy Uba, Mr. Nicholas Ukacghukwu and Mrs. Uche Ekwunife left PDP and became automatic candidates of the Labour Party, HDP and PPA respectively.
This time around, the arena does not seem to pack the kind of excitement that was witnessed four years ago. It was just a few days ago that some aspirants began to open their campaign offices in Awka. But then, the offices are still bereft of activities.
Nonetheless, a number of candidates have shown immense interest in the race. They include Mr. Chijioke Ndubuisi from Obosi, a lawyer, who in the last election ran on the platform of the National Democratic Party; Dr. Alex Obiogbolu from Onitsha, a former Chairman of the Anambra State Local Government Service Commission, who first contested in the 2007 election; Ekwunife from Nri, the leader of the APGA caucus in the House of Representatives; Mr. Victor Afam Ogene of the House of Representatives from Ogbaru; Dr. Okey Umeano from Awkuzu, a former state Chairman of APGA; and Chief Akachukwu Nwankpu from Okija, a senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical Matters.
There is also Mr. Patrick Obianyo from Onitsha, an architect, who is eying the APGA ticket; Oseloka Obaze and his brother Dubem Obaze both from Ogbaru; Chinedu Idigo from Aguleri; Senator Emma Anosike from Umuleri; Chief Paul Odenigbo from Ayamelum who was the immediate past SSG; member representing Anambra State in the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Mr. Nnamdi Ekweogwu from Onitsha; former chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Godwin Ibekwe; an industrialist, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, Dr. Emmanuel Okafor, Mr. Chima Anene and former banker, Chief Dennis Odife.
The number almost seems interminable with more and more persons indicating interest through several subtle means.
Apart from Mr. Ifeanyi Uba, the billionaire chairman of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, who is joining the race for the very first time, others with a lot of money to spend are Senator Uba, Senator Annie Okonkwo, Mr. Nicholas Ukachukwu, Dr. Obinna Uzoh, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
Senator Ngige, who appears to have abandoned his petition against the 2010 governorship election has shown serious interest in the race and has only recently said he would use the Easter holidays to answer many questions about his intention to run for the coveted office.
Having served for two terms in office, Governor Peter Obi will not be running for the position. But his interest in who succeeds him has generated a lot of heat in the state. His failure to name a successor has also put him in the centre of the political heat. Obi's declaration that he wants the next governor to come form Anambra North Senatorial District now dictates the tempo of debates as the countdown to the election expected to hold between November and December this year draws close.
The governor's position has thrown the polity into two divides and the arguments from both sides have formed volumes of endless debates. Obi has argued that Anambra North which is yet to produce a governor since the state's creation 22 years ago, should be allowed to do so this time around in the interest of equity.
Those who have countered the governor's position, have insisted that merit should remain the prime criterion for determining who will be governor not quota.
While the aspirants saunter into the arena and the debate on zoning continues, the question remains, what has taken the shine off the usually flamboyant electioneering in the state?
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Joemartins Uzodike, says the answer lies in the big size shoes that Governor Obi will be leaving behind. "He came from nowhere and now stole the hearts of the people. Those who want to contest are intimidated by his performance and are afraid that they might not meet the expectations of the people who are now praying that someone as good as he is should succeed him," Uzodike says.
But some other people have different reasons. Emeka Okonkwor, a politician from Njikoka Local Government Area, attributes the quiet political terrain to the uncertainties in all the major political parties. He argues that no sane contestant would want to begin to campaign on any platform that he is not yet sure of.
He says the two biggest parties, the PDP and APGA are embroiled in deep factional crises that it is difficult to know which of the factions will eventually emerge victorious and get INEC's nod to present candidates for the election. "If you were the one, would you want to spend money campaigning with the wrong faction of the party?" he asked.
Furthermore, the only major party that is not consumed by internal strife, the ACN is in the middle of a merger arrangement, which recent developments in Abuja and INEC seem to cast a doubt about its resolution any time soon. "Ngige will like to settle the merger issue first before flagging off his governorship campaign. It's the proper thing to do. Be sure of your platform before you start dancing," Okonkwor advised.
In the meantime, landlords who would have played host to campaign offices; hotels, that would have hosted meetings, playgrounds, event planners, political reporters, media houses, cap and banner makers, billboard operators and allied businesses and professionals that are waiting to latch onto the governorship electioneering might need to tarry a little while.
