All is now set for today’s governorship primary election of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) in Anambra State. For obvious reasons, it is one exercise critical observers and bookmakers have been waiting for. APGA under the leadership of Governor Peter Obi whose tenure ends in March next year had held sway in Anambra State since 2006. But, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the new candidate that would fly the party’s flag in the November 16 governorship race would emerge in the next 24 hours. And predictably, like in every power struggle, a lot of political undercurrents would play out as the party settles for a candidate ofchoice. Beyond other variables, the two major players whose interests would determine who emerges at the end of the game are Governor Peter Obi and the APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh. As the political battle incubates in the womb of time, many are patiently waiting to see how the interests of Obi and Umeh would either clash or coalesce in the journey toward the November 16 governorship poll. Already, as major APGA stakeholders go for broke in today’s exercise, there are fears that the peace deal between Governor Obi and Umeh before the primaries may be heading for the rocks over the choice of candidate. For instance, Daily Sun learnt that Governor Obi may have literally ‘blessed’ a retired banker and former Executive Director of Fidelity Bank, Chief Willy Obiano to fly the party’s flag in the governorship race. Obiano is fromAnambra North, a zone which Obi is supporting to produce his successor. There are permutations that Umeh is not comfortable with the choice of the retired banker who was said to have been drafted into the racejust two weeks ago. The thinking in Umeh’s camp is that Obiano is not the kind of brand that can make APGA have a smooth ride in the coming election. But Governor Obi’s supporters think otherwise and insist that Anambra state, indeed, does not need a conventional politician at this point in its history. The calculation in the camp is that only a technocrat like Obi is needed to consolidate and sustain the culture of prudence established by the outgoing APGA governor. Anambra news gathered that except a last minute change of heart by thetwo major actors in the ensuing power struggle over the choice ofAPGA candidate, another political battle is imminent between Obi and Umeh again immediately after the primaries. The signs of the current fears among APGA members emerged shortly after the Appeal Court ruling reinstated Umeh and ruled that there should be a return to status quo. What the ruling meantwas that all those elected with Umeh should return to their positions. Majority of the party officials had pitched tents with Umeh during the crisis and they returned with the determination to take their pound of flesh from Governor Obi. Anambra news learnt that Umeh’s supporters saw their first chance when they drew up the guidelines for the council polls. It was gathered that they ensured that nobody from the transition committee at the councils was eligible to contest the October council election. This was a ploy to oust Obi’s supporters who had held sway and looked forward to the council elections as a chance to continue their tenure. Having seen his supporters lose grip of the party ahead of the council election, Obi is said to be worried trying to ensure that his commissioners are selected as delegates for the governorship primaries. Recall that out of the 13 APGA aspirants that initially declared interest in the race, only seven eventually scaled through with the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), ProfChukwuma Soludo becoming the major casualty of the party’s screening exercise. The successful candidates include Hon Chukwuemeka Nwogbo, Paul Odenigbo, Hon Uche Ekwunife, Chief Willie Obiano, Mr John Nwosu, John Okechukwu Emeka and Nwachi Patrick Obianwu. Those screened out were Chukwuemeka Soludo, Emmanuel Nweke, Ogbuefi Tony Nnacheta, Chinedu Idigo, Dr Chike Obidigbo qnd Mr Oseloka Obaze.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 03:46:44 +0000
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