Anambra, the hot bed of South East political intrigues, is again enmeshed in a showdown following a bill passed into law by the state Assembly against illegal campaigns.
The list of candidates for the general elections published by the INEC has put the final nail on the issue of multiple candidates in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra.
Parallel PDP primaries produced four senatorial candidates for Anambra Central, three candidates (Anambra South) and three candidates (Anambra North).
The primaries also produced 28 House of Representatives candidates for 11 seats and 64 candidates for 30 state Assembly slots.
Pay N100,000 fine or go to jail
The new law says: “A person shall not advertise, publish and solicit for vote for or otherwise engage in any campaign for himself or for a person whose name was not duly published by the INEC or ANSIEC (Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission) or any other electoral body within Nigeria as a nominated person or candidate for any election within Anambra State.
“Any person who acts in contravention of Sub Section (1) of this Section is hereby declared to have engaged or be engaging in an unlawful assembly with intent to cause public disorder and breaches of public peace.
“Any person who engages in an unlawful assembly or acts in such a manner as to cause public disorder and breach of public peace as is referred to in Sub Section (2) of this Section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of N100,000 or to a term of one year imprisonment or to both such fine and imprisonment.”
Court order cited
But aspirants whose names do not appear on the INEC list are embarking on rallies, tours, and consultative meetings.
Posters and bill boards are also being put up by these candidates, some of whom cited a court order to back up their claim that the fight for tickets is not over yet.
Aspirants who are optimistic that the list will change before the election include Senator Magery Okadigbo and Stella Odua (Anambra North); Uche Ekwunife, Obiora Okonkwo, and Sylvester Okonkwo (Central); and Senator Andy Uba (South).
“What law are you talking about? I am on my way to a campaign rally and it has nothing to do with my fundamental right to association and assembly,” said one of the rebels who did not want his name in print.
“We have a court order which the INEC is laying claim to, and that does not vitiate the fact that it would not be changed. At the end of the day the genuine candidates will emerge, and you ask them not to campaign when they have an election they are participating in?”
Chris Uba campaigns
PDP Anambra South senatorial candidate, Chris Uba, has flagged off his campaign across the 21 councils in the state, dismissing as futile, the view of the PDP faction headed by his elder brother, Senator Andy Uba.
Chris, who has toured, Oyi, Anambra East, Ayamelum, Anambra West, and Ogbaru Councils, said: “The list from the INEC is final, and anybody going about claiming that he or she is a candidate of the party is only deceiving him or herself.
“They should also know that there is a law against illegal assembly, and it would be a breach of the law if people who are not candidates carry out campaigns.
“We, the candidates of the PDP, are on the ground and our campaigns are grassroots oriented. We campaign ward to ward, constituency to constituency, senatorial zone to senatorial zone.
“Those claiming to be candidates, where and when did they conduct their primary elections? Was the INEC present when they were conducted?
“We have John Emeka as candidate for Anambra North Senatorial Zone, Senator Annie Okonkwo for Anambra Central, and myself for Anambra South.
“So it is in the 11 House of Representatives seats where we have Tony Offia for Aguata, Emma Nweke for Awka North and South, Charles Odedo for Idemili North and South, Val Anyika for Njikoka, Ifeoma Obi for Orumba North and South, Chike Nwene for Oyi/Ayamelum, and Ignetious Nwene for Anambra East and West.
“We also have Benny Obaze for Ogbaru, Emeka Anohu for Ihiala, and Alizionum for Onitsha. These are our candidates and I can assure you that it is going to be a clean sweep.”
Aroh reports Obiano to Jonathan
Okey Aroh, a PDP chieftain who was one of the masters of ceremony at President Goodluck Jonathan’s rally at the Holy Trinity Field, Onitsha last week, complained openly to Jonathan about alleged frustation of PDP candidates in the state.
“Mr President we wish to bring to your notice a calculated attempt by the APGA Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, to frustrate our candidates from campaigning.
“We, as law abiding Nigerians, have chosen to remain calm but we may not remain for too long at the detriment of the fortunes of our party. Please call him to order.”