By Emeka Alex Duru
Tomorrow’s governorship election in Anambra state, is a matter of hours away. Already, the 18 political parties involved, are good to go. But the contest is essentially an exercise for five major political parties – the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Young Progressive Party (YPP).
By the close of Thursday, all the parties had concluded their campaigns, with the candidates, advertising their agenda at repositioning the state. APGA candidate, Prof Charles Soludo, is running on the mantra of continuing with the programmes of the current administration of Governor Willie Obiano. Valentine Ozigbo of the PDP, pledges re-inventing the state in terms of industrialization and general economic well-being. Andy Uba of APC, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo of the ZLP and Senator Ifeanyi Uba of the YPP, are also giving assurances of giving the state accelerated development if voted to office.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
RELATED ARTICLES:
Anambra poll: Police vow neutrality
IPOB not against Anambra election, says Powerful
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Parties, the issues
Beyond the pledges by the flag bearers, there are other issues in the poll. Many, for instance, interpret the contest as proxy war for 2023 politics and thereafter.
APGA in battle of survival
For APGA, this is a race that would go a long way in determining its future. Anambra, as it is, is the last stronghold of the party. In 2003, when APGA announced its presence in the country’s political scene, it was largely seen as the beautiful bride of the East.
Its Red Cock logo, evoked a reminiscence of the defunct National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons (NCNC). Apart from the NCNC representing the dominant sentiment in the Eastern Nigeria in the First Republic, its performance profile under the Nnamdi Azikiwe and Michael Okpara administrations, considered the shining moment of Region’s development initiative, made the comparison, alluring.
Again, with the endorsement of the iconic Igbo leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, APGA was readily taken as an oriental organisation. To crown it, the party adopted as its slogan, “Onye aghala nwanne ya”, (“be your brother’s keeper’) – the Igbo philosophy of standing by one’s kinsman at the hour of need.
With Peter Obi, former Anambra governor as the first governor under its platform and years later, Rochas Okorocha in Imo, APGA seemed to take the country’s politics by the storm. Its marginal impacts in other states outside the south east, made it appear a force to reckon with.
Over time however, the party lost focus, due to bickering by its principal officers. Defections set in. Key members of the party began to leave in droves. A couple of weeks ago, Obiano’s deputy, Nkem Okeke, walked out of the party, for the APC. Obi had earlier left for PDP, while Okorocha pitched camps with the APC.
Even now in Anambra, APGA is in a serious battle for survival. Its candidate Soludo, Professor of economics and former Central Bank Governor, has the sophistication and exposure. But his perceived low grassroots appeal, is counted as his major drawback. Supporters of the party are banking on the Obiano factor to make up.
A win in the Saturday poll, may bring APGA back to reckoning. But a loss may signal its exit as a political party of worth.
PDP in redemption mission
For the PDP, what it makes out of the election will go a long way in defining its future and relevance, even beyond Anambra. A win for the party, will serve as a huge booster to its touted desire to take over the centre from the APC in 2023.
Undoubtedly, its flag bearer, Ozigbo, a global award-winning business leader and immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, is a candidate to run with, any day, in a free and fair contest.
He has a pedigree of accomplishment in his field and possesses leadership qualities required to re-engineer the state. Ozigbo also seems to enjoy overwhelming grassroots support across board – a feat he demonstrated in stealing the show at party’s primary election held on Saturday, June 26, 2021 by dusting touted heavy weights.
Ozigbo comes across with disarming humility and obvious emotional intelligence, two critical considerations required for the high office of a governor. But there has been this jinx that seems to have trailed the PDP in Anambra since 2003 due to absence of internal democracy, making it win major seats in national elections but not making it at state contests. With the relative cohesion in the party, it perhaps may record remarkable feats, this time around.
APC in search of recognition
APC, until lately, was not considered a political party for the south east. The parochial and vindictive policies and actions of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration against the zone, made matters worse. With notable chieftains of the region joining or defecting to the party, APC has become a force to reckon with in recent time.
There is the suspicion of the federal government working behind the scene for the party. Its candidate, Andy Uba, is not a novice to the politics of the state. He has his clouts and crowd.
But the allegation that members of his family were instrumental to the regime of arson and brigandage that was unleashed on the state at a time, is a major issue he may contend with, tomorrow.
ZLP braves the odds
Dr. Okonkwo, Moscow-trained political scientist and consummate businessman, has been creating waves since he left the PDP for the ZLP in the aftermath of the PDP primary election. His engagement with the grassroots, is well-received. But the ZLP, is relatively new in the state.
YPP trudges on
In Nnewi, Anambra South senatorial district, Ifeanyi Uba of the YPP, is a household name. His political platform however does not command state-wide audience.
