By Emeka Alex Duru
Barely one year of his inauguration at the National Assembly, the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Victor Umeh, is back on the battle line. With the February 16 presidential and national assembly elections, a matter of weeks ahead, he is seeking another term in office on the ticket of his All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Before his swearing-in on January 18, 2018, the senator had gone through fierce legal battle that took almost three years, before the conduct of a rerun poll where he emerged triumphant.
As in 2015, he is again, scheduled to lock horns with Uche Ekwunife of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among other candidates. In their first encounter four years ago, Ekwunife was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Umeh however rejected the declaration and headed for the Tribunal. At the Enugu Division of Court of Appeal, Ekwunife’s victory was quashed on December 7, 2015, and INEC was directed to do a rerun poll for the District, within 90 days from the date of the judgement. It also disqualified the PDP from participating in the rerun.
The rerun did not, however, hold until January 13, 2018, after another Court of Appeal, this time around from Abuja Division, had put paid to all litigations surrounding the order. Umeh’s eventual victory paved the way for his inauguration. He is yet to fully settle on the seat when the bell for another battle tolls.
Another encounter with Ekwunife whose grassroots appeal resonates, promises to be engaging. But for the senator who is not given to shying away from legal and political battles, no matter the magnitude, the February 16 exercise, is akin to returning to a familiar terrain. Unlike in the past when his APGA enjoyed enormous cohesion in the state, the situation since the build-up of the current dispensation, has been altered considerably, especially with chieftains and groups, openly expressing disgust at the conduct of its primaries for various positions. And with Ekwunife also banking on support of a vastly invigorated PDP, the battle really looks tough.
Umeh is however not deterred. If anything, his supporters snigger that the so-called heavy weight politicians that will drive the fight from PDP, are, rather his contemporaries and opponents that he had at various times, run with or against. He thus, knows the terrain and intrigues of Anambra politics, profoundly, they enthuse.
They recall that this will not be his first time of seeing action at the national front, adding that even in attaining his current position in the Senate, he had encountered many challenges and had chalked in several victories at the fields and courts.
He had equally gone through tortuous paths in emerging the national chairman of APGA at a time. On emerging the chairman eventually, he took the party through a period that analysts say, remains its most glowing moment.
Within that period, Umeh ensured consolidation of the party in Anambra, in a daring effort that resulted to reelection of former Governor Peter Obi, the first of such feats in the state, aside winning more seats in the state’s legislature in 2011 elections. Obi is currently the Vice Presidential Candidate of the PDP.
APGA under Umeh, also made commendable in-road in Imo, ensuring the election of Governor Rochas Okorocha in 2011, aside winning for it more members in the state’s assembly. Okorocha later crossed to the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), that eventually fused with other parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party also made appreciable impacts at the national level, where it at a time, had members in the Senate and House of Representatives.
These are the experiences keen watchers of the unfolding encounter expect the senator to bring to bear in defending his seat against Ekwunife. Both, incidentally, are not new to each other. They are also used to the complexities of Anambra politics.
For Umeh, the reelection calls for the advertisement of his performance profile to his constituents. And they are, undoubtedly, are exciting. Critics and admirers, for instance, conceded to him robust presence and valuable input to discussions, sponsorship of important motions and bills, since his inauguration in the upper lawmaking house. He is particularly, seen as a strong voice on issues affecting the Igbo nation in the short period he has spent in the Senate.
For example, the other time, when a report on the constitution of Board members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC), was presented to the senate without representatives from the South East and South-South, Umeh rose against the confirmation of the nominees, insisting that the two geo-political zones should be included. His colleagues reasoned with him. Consequently, the confirmation exercise was stood down and has remained so. He has also spoken vigorously against the militarization of the South East, the continuing marginalisation of the region in the scheme of things, as well as the high-handed disposition of the federal government in handling the agitation by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
The motions on “The urgent need to include the Eastern Rail Lines in the Nigerian Railway Development Project, illegal confinement of underage offenders and infants in the same prison with adult prisoners, increase in armed roadblocks along major expressways in the South East geo-political zone”, in which he seconded Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, stand among his audacious outings in showing concern to the plight of his people. There are others.
These are among the credentials of quality representation that Umeh will place before the voters in Anambra Central, while asking for another term to consolidate his agenda for the District.
