Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the ground is clearly levelled for the November 6, 2021, Anambra state gubernatorial election. There are many parties in the scramble for the governor’s seat, but going by visible indices, it’s safe to say the fight would be fought majorly by three political parties, viz: the All Progressives Congress, APC, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
Sequel to the various political squabbles dogging the leadership of most parties in the race, especially the most notable among them, evidences are emerging to suggest the lack of seriousness on their side, for the conduct of the election. And perhaps that’s why the APC was quick to play the fast.
Although the state is under the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the combined charisma of the APC and PDP in the state, are conniving to charm and inspire the people in their favor, with the APC increasingly raising the stakes, by making itself the party to beat.
In 1999 and 2003, the PDP clinched power in the state, but was removed by the court in 2006, with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) replacing it. Since then, the PDP has been making frantic attempts to return, but to no success, and the reason has always been due to some infighting among it’s members during every election year.
With less than two months to go, the PDP is still facing legal actions against it in the law courts, with the latest being the challenge of validity of the nomination of the Robert Nchekwube Umeozulu, as running mate to Valentine Ozigbo, because of his voluntary renunciation of his Nigerian citizenship.
Also facing legal hurdle is the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Charles Soludo, over false claims he made in his INEC nomination form EC-9, to the effect that he is contesting to govern Aguata II constituency, said to be a non-existent constituency.
Capitalizing on these squabbles, and to ensure it’s candidate, Senator Andy Uba wins the election, the All Progressives Congress, APC, was quick to raise a strong national campaign council, which was inaugurated yesterday, Tuesday 17/08, under the leadership of Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma.
Senator Hope Uzodimma is a dogged fighter that is known to be tenacious and unwavering in persistence, till he unlocks the lock of luck.
While addressing the council, the National Chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC, Mai Mala Buni, said, looking at the composition of the campaign council, he is confident that his party, the APC, would coast to victory, come November 6.
The charm and aura of the campaign council is further reinforced by the presence of the Deputy Senate President, His Excellency, Senator Ovie Omo Agege, another devoted democrat that is unrelenting in the fight for justice.
The campaign council also includes the Ebonyi State Governor, Engr Dave Umahi, as deputy chairman; Timi Sylva, election sub-committee chairman; High Chief Ikechi Emenike, Chairman, Strategy sub-committee, Governor Yahaya Bello, Security sub-committee Chairman and Chief Paul Chukwuma, Director-General.
The marketing of Andy, as he is fondly called by political allies and admirers across the country, would not be very difficult, because he is not new to the Anambra State Government House. He had won the Governorship election in 2007, in a landslide victory and was sworn in on May 27, 2007.
But the people of the state were stunned when on June 14, 2007, barely two weeks and three days after his swearing-in, the Senator/Governor was removed from office by a judgement of the Supreme Court.
The duo of Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni and his counterpart, the indefatigable Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, are undoubtedly the opposition’s worst nightmares. Both are working wonders for their respective states and their party, the APC.
In his position as the Chairman, CECPC of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mai Mala has brought sanity to the party in a manner never seen before. Through prudent and modest management, combined with humility in politicking, Mai Mala is succeeding where others have failed.
Almost on daily basis, the APC is witnessing a gale of defection to the party, mostly from it’s closest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Governors, lawmakers and many prominent political leaders are falling over each other in the struggle to join the APC.
With such an excellent pedigree in party management, victory in the Anambra gubernatorial election is largely seen as nothing but a fait accompli.
The story is same with Sen. Hope Uzodimma, the political bulldozer per excellence. In politics, Hope Uzodimma has earned the name of a person that exercises an irresistible force, particularly in disposing opponents in difficult terrain.
With the steam from such a team, the dream of Andy Uba, for the acquisition of Anambra, can confidently be called, a DONE DEAL.