Special Correspondent, CHIBUZOR NWACHUKWU, attempts analysis of the issues and intrigues in Anambra politics ahead of the 2015 general elections.
These are not the best of times for Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Though the chapter is incidentally seen as the heartbeat of the party, uncertain developments, curiously, are on the heels of earlier predictions by critics that APGA would never be the same after Peter Obi’s tenure as governor. Some had even said that before or after 2015 general election, APGA would ultimately be subsumed into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), going by the body language of Obi who has never hidden his support for the President Goodluck Jonathan led PDP
Uncertain future for APGA
Peter ObiWhat many see as, perhaps, the genesis of APGA’s uncertain future is the shocker the party received when its leader, Obi, could not get his speculated ministerial appointment recently. The gladiators in Anambra PDP were said to have insisted that a non-member would not be appointed as minister, while the party had a platoon of party faithful qualified enough to be made ministers. They also opined that the only way to remedy the situation was for Obi to join PDP.
Apparently boxed to a corner, President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly had to choose between his second term ambition and giving Obi a ministerial appointment.
As if that was not enough, some members of the party at the National Assembly left for PDP. Among these are Uche Ekwunife, Uche Azubuogu, Victor Ogene and Cyril Egwuatu. With their reported defection, Emeka Nwogbo who represents Awka North and Awka South federal constituency is the only remaining member of the party in the House of Representatives. There are even fears that he may join the rest of his colleagues in PDP.
Senator Chris Anyanwu, from Imo, had earlier dumped the party for PDP.
Nwogbo has, however, allayed fears of his defection, stressing that APGA has provided a veritable platform to him and any other true Igbo man to pursue and actualise their political ambition. He argued that APGA as identity of the Igbo should be sustained for the overall interest of Ndigbo. He enjoined all other members of the party to shelve their personal interest and work to salvage the party from political wayfarers, pointing out that unnecessary bickering and personality conflicts only cause more divisions in the party.
Poisonous bait
TheNiche gathered that the defection of the NASS members of APGA to PDP may be with the touted campaign by the leaders of PDP that any elected office holder that joins the party would get an automatic ticket and would be delivered during the general election.
It is, incidentally, not only the APGA men that have capitalised on this carrot being dangled at them. The first to do so was Charles Odedo, representing Idemili North and South federal constituency who left the All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the PDP, his former party.
Sen. Chris Ngige
There are even permutations that the only APC senator from the South East, Dr. Chris Ngige, may reconsider his stand in the party and contemplate moving over to PDP, given that it would be a big plus for the party in Anambra.
Ngige has, however, dismissed the insinuation, stressing that “APC is one political party that has all it takes to salvage Nigeria. People who say that the party is not an
Igbo party are merely fooling themselves. There are no such plans of leaving APC.”
Amid the horse-trading
While the horse-trading continues among politicians in Anambra, there are indications of Anambra APGA trying to paper the cracks in its fold.
Our reporter learnt, for example, that recently, an emergency meeting to that effect was held at the Governor’s Lodge Awka, presided over by Governor Willie Obiano along with other party chieftains.
According to those at the meeting, the governor had urged members defecting from APGA to return to base, promising to put the party in better shape ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Obiano, it was leant, had expressed concern over the mass defection of party stalwarts, given the likely consequences of the action that many fear may threaten his position as governor.
This is especially against the backdrop of peculiarities of Anambra politics that is often characterised by its bandwagon tendencies.
In what is increasingly assuming the political culture of the state, loyalty and patronage run through the chain, in a pattern that the senatorial candidate carries along candidates for the House of Representatives, down to those angling for the house of Assembly.
Against this backdrop, it is being rumoured that some House of Assembly members from the same constituencies with National Assembly members defecting from APGA are considering dumping APGA for the PDP. The move, it is feared, may not mean well for Obiano.
Umeh’s ambition
Victor UmehThe senatorial ambition of APGA National Chairman, Victor Umeh, is also considered another major issue of concern in the party. There are indications that opponents of Umeh would not have him remain as national chairman while the National Assembly primaries are being conducted in the party. They insist that Umeh has to relinquish his post as national chairman and contest for the APGA ticket as an ordinary member.
At the heart of this insistence is the anger of APGA candidates whose nominations were allegedly substituted with non-party members in the last local government election. They are said to have all won their cases at the local government election petitions tribunal and are awaiting the execution of those judgments by the attorney-general of the state.
These aggrieved party members are said to be spoiling for a fight against Umeh over his alleged role in the last primary elections of the party. They are also said to be plotting some moves against the party if the judgment in their favour is not executed.
The Obiano factor
Willie ObianoWhat particularly is of concern to observers in that unfolding scenario is that Obiano’s blueprint and roadmap to governance may be affected by the unsettling developments in the party. There are, in fact, suggestions that some party faithful appear to be taking advantage of the governor’s large heart and disposition for carrying members along to overheat the party.
What the governor seems to have going for him is the perceived detachment from the foggy APGA politics and his concentration on governance. To his credit, Obiano has not been linked to any of the tendencies in APGA politics. He is rather seen by virtually all the contenders as a bridge-builder.
Concerned analysts have, however, noted that the governor’s pacifist attitude may not work for him all the way. Their suggestion is that he has to step into the party and possibly wield the big stick to whip errant members into line, if need be.
His deputy, Nkem Okeke, though from the academia, appears to understand APGA politics better, having served as a commissioner under the Obi administration. Against this perception, it is being canvassed that Obiano would be at peace if Okeke takes up the challenges of party politics to ensure that the pace of governance is not in any way distracted.
House of Assembly row
These permutations are, however, subject to certain developments in the House of Assembly that almost saw the members removing the Speaker, Mrs. Chinwe Nwebili, recently.
Allegations of high-handedness and closeness with the executive arm of government have been levelled against her by members. Questions are being raised over some funds estimated at about N90 million allegedly meant for lawmakers that could not be accounted for by the leadership of the Assembly.
Some angry Assembly members have also alleged imbalance in the power equation the state, contending that the policy of zoning has not been respected.
But the speaker, through her media aide, Fidelis Nwakwesili, dismissed the allegation of financial malfeasance against the House leadership. She added that there had been peace and harmony among the lawmakers.
Power agitation subsists
The power equation agitation, however, subsists. With Obiano’s election, power has shifted to Anambra North Senatorial District, hence the argument by aggrieved legislators that Nwebili, who is from Anambra North, should step down for a lawmaker from Anambra South.
The lawmakers further insist that the position of Secretary to the State Government (SSG) being held by Osseloka Obaze from Anambra North should be taken to another senatorial district in the interest of equity and fairness.
Though the pressure is not yet much on Obiano, there are fears that these agitations could be latched upon by interest groups to unsettle his government.
Incidentally, Obiano seems to be learning fast at this point following his show of ingenuity in managing the perceived disquiet among the legislators and preventing it from escalating into full-blown crisis.
Even as the situation is, many are of the view that 2015 general election would certainly play up more surprises and paradigms in the powerplay, given the rising political atmosphere in the state.
On paper, APGA as party seems to have safe haven in Anambra North where the contest for the district is almost foreclosed following the ambition of Dubem Obaze, former Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Local Government Matters.
Incidentally, the party, our reporter gathered, has zoned the senatorial seat to Onitsha, Ogbaru area, since the governor is from Omanbala area.
Ngige as beautiful bride
It is not only APGA that is currently feeling the heat in the kitchen as 2015 draws closer. PDP that has suddenly become the new bride of Anambra politics still has its own challenges of striking a balance between pacifying old party members with ambition for certain positions and keeping to the promise of automatic ticket for the incumbent and those returning from other parties.
For the APC, all hopes revolve round Ngige. Take him away from the party, and APC is as good as history in the state, if not the entire South East, enlightened observers have argued.
But the senator, who had governed Anambra before he was thrown out by a court judgment, has, somehow, become the most sought-for by the PDP. PDP henchmen are said to be of the view that with Ngige back in the party, they would have scored great political point in the South East, in a move that will mark a step to victory in Imo State against Governor Rochas Okorocha.
While PDP is said to be waiting for a positive reply from Ngige, former House of Representatives member, Chudi Ofodile, is said to be kept on stand-by with Ekwunife, in the event of the senator choosing to remain in the APC.