One of Nigeria’s 36 states, Anambra state, located in the center of the Southeast zone is due to hold an election tomorrow to determine who will govern the state for the next four years. The incumbent governor, Mr. Willy Obiano, who was elected in 2013, is running for re-election, on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. He is facing serious challenge from right, left, back and front. The party controlling the center, the APC, does not see why it should not also hold sway in Anambra State. Its flag-bearer for the election, Dr. Tony Nwoye, has been parading the state singing the same song.
But it will be recalled that in 2015, Anambra voters totally shunned the APC and its presidential candidate and overwhelmingly gave their support to Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP. This tends to explain why the PDP now believes that it will win tomorrow’s gubernatorial contest to occupy the State House in Awka. Also, the man who handed over to the current helmsman, Peter Obi, who served as governor for two terms on the APGA platform, has since switched over to the PDP. This is a factor that seems to be working in favour of the PDP candidate, Mr. Oseloka Obazee, who was Secretary to the Government under Peter Obi. So where will the pendulum swing?
Many analysts see the entire election as a three-horse race between the PDP, APC and the ruling APGA. Only a wide stretch of imagination will allow the mention of the UPP candidate, Mr. Osita Chidoka, former Aviation Minister and former Federal Road Safety Corps boss. The man’s face may be well known but such cannot be said about his party.
One of the former governors of the state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has expressed support for the second term bid of Governor Willie Obiano.
At a media conference in Awka, Dr. Ezeife urged citizens to cast their votes for the aspirant in the election. He praised the candidate’s achievements particularly on security, pointing out that the current safe environment had opened up the state to local and foreign investors.
He noted that before Governor Obiano’s intervention, people feared visiting Anambra, opting to hold social events in Lagos, Abuja and other cities, as cases of kidnapping became rampant. “Anambra is one of the safest states in Nigeria today. People move without fear, in and out of Anambra. Onitsha roads are now safe. The truth is that the elders of Anambra had committed to Governor Obiano that if he succeeds in solving the security problem, they would support his second term bid. Indeed, it is now a debt we owe. And we should do it with happiness and celebration,” Dr. Ezeife said. It remains to be seen whether the ex-governor’s appeal would make the right impact.
