Many argue that the contest may just be between PDP and Labour Party following the outcome of the February elections
By Kodilinye Obiagwu
The 2023 governorship election is Enugu State will task bookmakers. Hitherto, it was foolhardy betting against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winning an election in Enugu because there was virtually no opposition. That may have changed, with some political parties posing serious challenge to the PDP.
The governorship and state houses of assembly election tomorrow promises to be interesting. The front liners are: All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Frank Nweke (Nkanu West); All Progressive Congress (APC), Uche Nnaji (Nkanu West); Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Mbah (Nkanu East), Chijioke Edoga (LP), (Isi-Uzo in Enugu East senatorial district).
Many however argue that the contest might just be between PDP and LP following the outcome of the February elections. The emerging numbers are not in favor of PDP.
In the last 24 years, no PDP presidential candidate had lost in the state; no PDP incumbent governor had ever lost a senatorial election he contested. In February, PDP lost seven of the eight House of Representatives seats to LP. Nnolim Nnaji in Nkanu West/East (PDP) won the House of Rep seat.
In the senatorial election, Engr. Osita Ngwu (PDP) won in Enugu West while Okey Ezea (LP), won the Enugu North senatorial seat, defeating the governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
On March 18, LP and PDP will be fighting for the 24 House of Assembly seats, the governorship and the postponed senatorial election in Enugu East. It was rescheduled due to the killing of Victor Oyibo Chukwu, LP senatorial candidate.
The last thing the PDP needed going into Saturday’s election, was bloodletting. The assassination of Chukwu, from Amuri, on February 22, a few days to the February 25 polls, was just what the devil ordered.
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The anxiety was high in Enugu East because of the election which would have pit former governor, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani and Oyibo Chukwu. But now, Nnamani will contend with Kelvin Chukwu, the slain candidate’s younger brother, a tyro who will be banking on his late brother and the Obidients for victory.
Confusion had trailed Nnamani’s candidacy after PDP suspended him for supporting APC. In the midst of confusion, Nnamani went to court and insisted, “my ticket in Enugu East senatorial race is intact. My people are with me; they have fully endorsed me.”
He cited Section 33 of the Electoral Act, to safeguard his status. The section stipulates: “A political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted under section 29 of the Electoral Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate, provided that in the case of such withdrawal or death of a candidate, the political party affected shall within 14 days of the occurrence of the event , hold a fresh primary election to produce and submit a fresh candidate to INEC for the election concern.”
One of Mbah’s challenge is that while the party could be judged on the performance of Ugwuanyi, he is being scrutinized for being a part of the Ebeano political machinery led by Nnamani, and which is suffering from a perception that it is a nest of killers. He was a former commissioner in Nnamani’s government.
“We don’t want this type of politics in Enugu anymore. Enugu has shed too much blood in the name of politics,” lamented an elderly woman in Enugu when Oyibo was killed.
Mbah’s other burden is the Obidient movement, which is baying for blood and culling the old guard politicians and old structures. The third is that Mbah is PDP and therefore recognizably, collateral damage.
The Director of Public Communications and Spokesman, Peter Mbah Campaign Council, Nana Ogbodo said, “Mbah is not more PDP than Chijioke Edoga who built his political career as a member of PDP until a few months ago. Since Mbah served as commissioner under Chimaraoke, he has never held a party position or worked for any government.”
Edoga’s candidacy benefits from the charge of the Obidients and the perception that he is farther away from the Ebeano political group.
However, Edoga’s albatross is that he is from Isi-Uzo, a local government area considered more as an Nsukka cultural outshoot in Enugu North than an area of Enugu East Senatorial Zone. A victory for him is considered as an extension for Ugwuanyi and Enugu North. Those who won’t vote for him will view him from this angle.
He has had an illustrious stint in public service spanning over two decades from local government chairman, House of Reps member, presidential aide, to being a two time commissioner under Ugwuanyi.
Evangelist Robert Eze, the chairman of the LOC during the homecoming fanfare of Edoga had said, “the 2023 election is not just about Edoga. It is about unity, fairness, equity. It is about principle, integrity, faithfulness. It is about Isi-Uzo. There is need for a change of narrative in the politics of Enugu East.“
Ogbodo is hopeful that “the fever, which had come over LP since it recorded some unexpected and fleeting victories in the National Assembly elections through a bandwagon effect of the presidential election would be cured by the discerning electorate on March 18.
“It is a fact that whatever victories they scored were not predicated on the strength or popularity of their candidates, but rather on the popularity of one man, who will not be on the ballot on March 18.
There is an anticipation of violence and rumors of candidates galvanizing cultists to disrupt elections are spreading. Reacting to the threats of violence, Ogbodo stated that the “do-or-die” statement by Ezea exposed the grand designs of LP to “unleash terror” and “rig the electoral process.
“However, we are to assure them that we have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over that deadly threat and that Enugu people will come out en masse to vote for Mbah and PDP in a peaceful atmosphere and that their votes will count. Enugu people will never surrender to their threats and evil designs”, he stated.
An LP member, Chinedu Nnaji, said, “we expect the governorship election to be tougher. People are suddenly aware of the impact of LP. No one would want a repeat of what’s happening with the outcome of the presidential election. We trust there will not be violence as people come out to vote and protect their votes. We put our trust in the official security and most importantly, we trust God.”
Uchenna Nnaji (APC), Frank Nweke (APGA)
Despite the fact that Enugu hasn’t been a favorable hunting ground for APGA at any time, Oby Ezekwesili reckons that Nweke has the competence and integrity to excite Enugu voters.
A strong supporter and activist, Aisha Yesufu who endorsed Nweke, called on Enugu people “to change the faces in leadership.”
A two-time minister and former Director General of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Nweke was touted in some quarters as a neutral who would benefit should Enugu voters decide against Mbah and Edeoga.
When rumors circulated that he had withdrawn from the race, Nweke described it as “a testament to the acceptance of my message of awakening in Enugu. The citizens have woken up and are ready to take back our state.”
The ambition of APC governorship candidate Uchenna Nnaji, will presumably suffer because of his party. A greenhorn in politics, he is perhaps the “cleanest” of the candidates. He has never held a political office, has no godfather, no support group and fundamentally “no structure.” Nnaji was drafted into the race by friends and supporters in 2022 when he came in from the diaspora. Ekene Uzodinma, a fledgling politician and founder of the Foundation ‘Enugu Will Rise Again’, led the drive to persuade Nnaji.
He succumbed when some elders added their voices, convincing him that “people will prefer an untainted” candidate like him.
– Obiagwu, a journalist, publisher writes from Enugu.
