Anambra 2010: INEC clears 24 guber candidates
From GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka
Thursday, December 10, 2009


The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday released names of 24 standard bearers of the political parties and their deputies cleared for the February 6, 2010 gubernatorial election in Anambra state.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s name was, however, not on the list as he was not cleared due to court litigation.
While the PDP problem was yet unresolved, Governor Peter Obi survived Chief Chekwas Okorie’s coup as he was cleared to contest the election but not without changing his running mate which was gathered to be the saving grace.

Releasing the list at a stakeholder’s forum the commission organised in Awka, INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu said the commission had put in place various measures to ensure that the election was successful.

The list also confirmed the candidature of Chief Dr. Andy Uba and Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of Labour Party (LP) and Hope Democratic Party (HDP) respectively.
Addressing the forum, Prof. Iwu urged the candidates to ensure that the election was done in an atmosphere of brotherhood, noting that at the end of the day; only one Anambrarian would emerge as the winner of the election.
He also urged them to shame those who said the state would burn in the course of the election, saying, “the whole world is looking at us, let us show them the difference between speculation and reality.”

Iwu disclosed that as part of the commission’s usual process of enhancing trust, it had posted a new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the person of Mr. Ralph Uwazuruonye to take over from the hardworking Chief Rowland Uwa who would be going for another assignment, just as other three commissioners would be joining next year before the election to boost its activities.
Giving the ground rules, he urged the candidates to show courtesy to one another, adding that it would not be business as usual, as the forthcoming election must be one man, one vote.

He said, “I will like to commend the candidates for having a rancour free electioneering campaign contrary to what we read in the newspapers. From the point of view of the umpire, we’re impressed with how Anambra people have so far undertaken this race. People sometime worry about the large number of contestants, that is what happens in a democracy, but it will then filter onto one person.
“But I also want us to continue as we enter this crucial last lap, for us to keep the peace, let it be violent-free and let us also know that whoever is going to emerge as the governor of Anambra State in 2010 can never be somebody from Enugu State, can never be somebody from Imo State, cannot even be somebody very close to here like Asaba. It must be a bonafide son or daughter of the state. The person definitely is your brother or your sister and that is why we have to conduct this electioneering campaign with utmost dignity and respect.
“…Generals die in battle because they keep believing that the new modern war are going to be fought in the same manner like their Korean war or Burma and that is why old Generals die in war. They make the mistake thinking that it is the same old game. The game has changed. People should get used to it. If you think you cannot campaign, it is in your best interest to save your strength and stamina and go home.

“This election would be fought on the basis of one man, one vote. We have monitored elections in this state, seven elections since 1959 and we also know what you do, you also know the tricks you do play. Let me also explain that we will not accept results coming from any so-called difficult terrain because that is the expertise of this state. We will not accept such results. All the results will come at a particular time, they will be sent in and we will take that as a result that happened for everybody, so there will be no surprises
“What we have decided to do is that at every polling unit, according to law, the results will be announced at that polling unit. That is what the electoral act said.”

Iwu also said that in the February election, INEC would not use any adhoc staff but would use its staff or National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) personnel, just as he said that the commission was going to inaugurate an Election Monitoring and Observation Board which would help the commission know where things were not going well so it could fix them.
The board which will be chaired by the first National Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Ikeazor Akariwe, according to Iwu, would participate throughout the election, starting from when it would be inaugurated.
Also speaking, Governor Peter Obi commended the commission for the reassurance given to the state and urged it to ensure that the election was free and fair, just as he called on all his fellow contestants to play by the rule.
His predecessor in office, Dr. Chris Ngige, also commended INEC and urged it to work on the problem areas that had been recurring in elections in the state such as lack of fund for the commission to execute elections, thereby allowing participants bring vehicles to take away voting materials in the name of helping the commission.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/dec/10/national-10-12-2009-01.htm

Successful candidates for Anambra State February 6, 2010 elections

ALP ARCH. MIKE IKEMEFUNA NWAFOR GOV
CAROL N. ONWELUZO (MRS.) D. GOV
ANPP MICHAEL NNAMDI EJEZIE GOV OKEKE GEORGE OKWUDILI D. GOV
ADC RALPH OKEY NWOSU GOV PRINCE EMMANUEL ODUNZE D. GOV

NDP CHIJIOKE NDUBUISI GODFREY GOV FLORENCE CHINYELU OBIAKO D. GOV
NNPP PATRICK OGOCHUKWU EGOLUM GOV DOZIE JULIUS CHUKWUMA D. GOV
UNPP DR. OKOLI CHRISTIAN NWACHUKWU GOV NOSIKE JULIUS CHUKWUMA D. GOV
NMPP GEORGE IKE OKOYE GOV HON. PAUL PAKER ONYEIZUGBO D. GOV
NAP MRS. NJIDEKA UGOCHI ANYADIKE GOV

MR. ARTHUR OBI OKOLONJI D. GOV
HDP NICHOLAS UKACHUKWU GOV MIKE OKOYE D. GOV
CPN ARCH. GEOFF ONYEJEGBU GOV OKEKE NNODU CYRIL D. GOV
CDC CHUKWUEMEKA KENNETH GOV JOHN NWOSU D. GOV
AC CHRIS NWABUEZE NGIGE (OON) GOV HON. PHILIP OBIORA AGBASI D. GOV

UDP BARR. GODSON OHAENYEM OKOYE GOV OKECHUKWU EMMANUEL CHINELO D. GOV
ARP HON. EMMANUEL NWALUNOR GOV EZEIFE CHUKS UCHE D. GOV
PMP EUGENE EZEKWUECHE GOV
IBENEME VIVIAN CHHIZOBA D. GOV

RPN DR. BENJAMIN OBIDIGBO GOV
ARCH. SIR. JUDE JONATHAN EMEJUE JP. D. GOV
BNPP ONWUGBUFOR VALLENTINE C. GOV
NWANKWO TONY BENSON C. D. GOVNCP KENNETH OZOEMENA NWUBA GOV
JOHN CHUKKA ODENIGBO D. GOV

NMDP CHRISTOPHER IKE NWEGBU GOV
EMEKA HAROLD AMOBI D. GOV PPA HON. MRS. UCHE LILIAN EKWUNIFE GOV
DR. MIKE AGHADIUNO D. GOV
LP DR. EMMANUEL ANDY UBA GOV

NDIFE EDWIN D. GOV
CPP EGONO RICHMOND OLISA GOV
EZENOKE CHRISTIAN NDIDI D. GOV
NSDP CHIEF VICTOR I. ANIGBATA GOV
MR. NWOKOBELU CHRISTOPHER
UCHENNA D. GOV

APGA MR. PETER GREGORY OBI GOV
MR. EMEKA NDUBISI D. GOV
PDP SUBJECT TO COURT LITIGATION

I can see the hand of PDP working against her own. Mr. Soludo, your enemies are within.

Go and pay tribute to your fathers, and the seat of government is yours, else, Anambra will never be like Dubai!.

Can we say, only PDP chairman is in support of Soludo, that is why he is not making any headway? Or can we say, the likes of Andy Uba is really playing out his cards here, judging from the bribery saga of the Appeal court incident or suspicion as the case may be? Or do we say, Anambraians do not want Soludo? Or What is the problem then with Soludo?

A troubled man, asking Nigerian politics what he has done?.

Enjoyment1:

Can we say, only PDP chairman is in support of Soludo, that is why he is not making any headway? Or can we say, the likes of Andy Uba is really playing out his cards here, judging from the bribery saga of the Appeal court incident or suspicion as the case may be? Or do we say, Anambraians do not want Soludo? Or What is the problem then with Soludo?

The problem with Soludo is CHANGE is never easy. Those who profit from the status quo are fighting with all they got to stop a man who wakes up everyday dreaming big for the world around him and taking small steps to make those dreams come true.
These groups of folks who represent the status quo are very organised, they can buy up the media to control public opinion, they can buy up judges to frustrate any candidate. The can do most things unless they are stopped.

I keep asking a question and those who criticise Soludo's candidacy never seem to want to answer the question. If Soludo choice is not credible please tell me how the Ngige, Obi or of late the Andy Ubah choice is any better? Do we have a selective appreciation of politics? or are we so confused that we can no longer recognise GOOD over EVIL?

The mark of DEMOCRACY is not an absence of dissidents. That no one challenges Ngige's or Obi's nomination does not make it democratic. It is just a reflection of the size of the party. And if we are saying is that what we want is a party where people aggree all the time then there is a problem because criticisms spurs development.

I honestly think we are all playing into the hands of Chris Uba.

@Mikeansy

What you should know or understand is that Soludo is not a politician and never had been. He jumped into a terrain he is not use to or familiar with. He has no single political structure on the ground and does not know how the mago-mago Nigerian politics works.

Remember that before he becomes the CBN governor, he lives in London and came back, just face his job and when he left CBN, the sensible thing he should have done is to go back to his base in London, just like Okonjo Iwuala did. I said this when I first heard that he is into politics now.
He was not even a member of PDP, until few months go. While you knew, that PDP Anambra is made up of three groups.
1. The Uba family group
2. Annie Okonkwo and others Group
3. Nicola Ukachukwu Group

Each of these group produces all the candidates to cancel each other out as they field candidates to take away votes from their opponent in the areas they are strong in the ballot or rigging/intimidations.
The Uba family group had been fighting it out with the Annie Okonkwo group for a long time regarding 2010. While the Uba concentrated on buying the Appeal Court judgement until Ojukwu punctured it, the Annie Okonkwo group made a lot of ground. That is why Annie Okonkwo had been singing praise of Obi during the governor in waiting attempt by Andy. And Annie Okonkwo himself, is genuine money magnet himself before politics, remember his has many industries and one of his product is the TURA cosmetics brands and Gordon trainers Shoes.

When eventually Ubas lost the governor in waiting case, it was almost too late for Andy Uba but their structure then filed behind Chris Uba. Therefore, the battle for PDP ticket was set between Chris Uba, Annie Okonkwo and Nicolas Ukachukwu.
The Uba faction controls the state house of assembly members because they rigged all of them into there in 2007, hence their loyalty and I will bet you yhat within days now, all of them will announce that they have joined the Labour party.
Annie Okonkwo group on the other hand presently controls the state executive structure of PDP and they were ready to use it to give the ticket to Senator Annie Okonkwo.

Until Soludo came from nowhere and without any structure on the ground, relied only on PDP Abuja HQ people and when the primaries started, those in Abuja like Tony Aneni had instructed Gov Suswan/Dimeji Bankole to make sure that Soludo was selected ahed of others.
However, when they arrived Anambra they found a hostile attitude toward the Abuja anointed that Soludo has nothing on the ground, they panicked and went ahead with the primaries when these other factions threatened them if they do not.

In the first batch of the primaries, Soludo as candidate, wasn’t anywhere near the frontline, it was then that point that one of his supporters seek the court injunction Awka to stop the primaries going any further, of which the Ogbulafors and the Anenis in Abuja were quite happy and alright about as it provides them the opportunity provided by the court injunction to select Soludo without going further ahead with the primaries on the excuse that the deadline for the submission of candidates had elapsed and think that the other factions will keep mute if threatened with party expulsion.

That action alone united the entire foes Of Annie Okonkwo-Ukachukwu-Uba groups and they are the ones that went to court to stop Soludo using their supporters. So the genesis of using the court to stop the process, actually originated with Soludo, who is now a victim of it.
Therefore, you cannot compare the Soludo’s situation to that of Ngige and Obi because they both had congresses in their parties but there was no opposition to their candidacy as no one came forward to challenge them in open. Nevertheless, in Soludo, maybe a good governorship material to you but in the Nigerian mucky politics, was not the front-runner as he was a late comer to the game but allowed himself to be used by the Aneni-Ogbulafor-Alkalis.

In Andy Uba’s case, you have to blame the Labour party and their already selected candidate (Mike Are) that stepped down and gave him the ticket. Only time will tell, what sort of arrangement he had with the Labour party and Mike Are.

Labour party had always been the stool to fall back on, when thing does not go your way in PDP. Remember Governor Segun Mimiko in 2007. I am totally sure that Maurice Iwu is still loyal to Andy Uba that put him where he is now and is desperate to repay him. There is no way Andy Uba would have made the big last minute move into Labour party without the prior knowledge of Maurice Iwu. In addition, why does Maurice Iwu, all of a sudden decide to be a break on PDP’s wheel?
There is no doubt that if the election was free and fair even with Soludo, the race is simply between Obi and Ngige, for the fact that the three other factions in PDP will never allow Soludo, they considered as an outsider to win it. Even if they allowed Soludo tomorrow, the same people that will rig the election for him, will be busy working for Andy Uba.

However, watch this space.

Anambra 2010: INEC can’t stop PDP, says Vice President
By Jacob Edi, Abuja
Friday, December 11, 2009


•Goodluck Jonathan
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section
The Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, has declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot stop the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from participating from the February 6, 2010 governorship election in Anambra State.

INEC had omitted the name of the PDP governorship candidate, Chukuma Soludo, from the list of aspirants in obedience to the ruling of the Court of Appeal which ordered the electoral body not to recognize Soludo as PDP candidate. The party had already appealed to the Supreme Court.
Speaking at the 49th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP, the vice president told the party chieftains not to lose hope as the Supreme court had already decided on the supremacy of political parties in the nomination of candidates in previous cases.

“We have a challenge now in terms of Anambra elections and as 2011 is moving nearer the challenges will be more because we are approaching our election. And I believe the Anambra election is another test case.
“To me, I am not really worried about the Anambra election because if you look at the INEC position, PDP is contesting the election. They are not saying that PDP will contest the election. The issue is that we are yet to sort out our candidate and I believe it is a classical case and all Nigerians will be watching how these things will progress.

“My conviction is that PDP will contest Anambra election. My conviction is that of course INEC cannot stop PDP from contesting the election, PDP’s name is there and we have to contest that election. So no body should be worried, nobody should be discouraged because of whatever is happening because, if you look at some of kind of judgement that has been given by the Supreme Court over the period, you will know that the party is supreme and the position belongs to the party and I believe that there is no way PDP will not contest the election.”

The Vice President also lampoon other political parties for being complacent during electioneering campaigns only to turn around and accuse the PDP of wrongdoings after losing the election to the ruling party. He assured that the party would win the presidential election 100 times over.
“I always tell people that even if you conduct presidential election 100 times and bring angels from the moon to conduct it, PDP will still win. Because as a human system, there may be some errors or flaws or perceived discrepancies in terms of the management of elections but there is no other party today that I can say has a bigger followership than the PDP.

“If politics is a factor of the people , if the number matters, there is no reason any party will say we suppose to win. In fact, immediately after the elections and whenever people come up with the feelings that PDP rigged elections I used to say look I was the governor of Bayelsa State when we contested this presidential elections and in my state though the population of Bayelsa State is low, but because it is a strategic state because of the oil industry and the factors in the Niger Delta, any party that is worth winning elections is supposed to go there and campaign.

“Not many parties campaigned there and the experience is quite in a number of states and people would feel they would just sit down without campaigning and they say you will win PDP. The PDP flags off its campaign in Lagos and in Abuja and then we have zonal campaigns, then we have state to state campaigns and that is for presidential elections.

“Even within the state the governors and their team move from local government to local government. In very big local governments we even visited many communities and no party did that across this country and some other parties could not visit some state capitals but still they are telling the external world that they are the people who supposed to have won the elections.
“I think these things have to be made very clear. A lot of politics is played on pages of papers and so we should not be intimidated by the reactions or publications we see in the papers.”

In his opening address the National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor bemoaned the spate of defection and indiscipline in the party and several court cases instituted against the party by its members and warned that henceforth sanctions will be taken against recalcitrant members.

“The tendency to defect to another party or take the Party to Court once a decision is unfavourable to a member is fast becoming a habit. Henceforth, any member who takes the Party to court without exhausting the internal conflict resolution mechanisms as enshrined in Article 21.1 (l) of the PDP constitution would be referred to the disciplinary committee for severe and prompt sanctions.
He appealed to those who have defected to other parties from the PDP to have a rethink as they will be subjected to thorough screening and investigations on their return if they fail to heed his advise.

Ogbulafor also warned that several sanctions will be taken against party members that works with opposition parties at the detriment of the PDP and attributed the logjam in the Anambra state chapter of the party to unbecoming attitude of some political players in the state.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/dec/11/national-11-12-2009-00-001.htm

Goodluck Jonathan

The Baba Suwe in Government!

Is it compulsory must win?

I mean, is it compulsory PDP must contest in this election?

selingel:

I mean, is it compulsory PDP must contest in this election?

But it is the fundamental right of the PDP and its candidates to take part in the process.

I thought Jonathan was spot on.

Courts have no right choosing political party candidates.

selingel:

The Baba Suwe in Government!

roflmao
they actually look alike!

Eziachi

I don't want to join issues with you but mark these few points.

1. Every Man is by nature a political animal. An individual is not a politician only to the extent that the dont wish to be involed.

2. I think it is arrogant to choose Soludo's career choice from him. Every political leader started life from somewhere. Some started as soldiers, some started as Businessmen, others are civil servants, others are teachers. If everyone stayed back where they started their careers there will be no political leaders.

3. The notion that if soludo wins the election then it has been rigged but if Obi or Ngige wins then its free and fair is the kind of prejudice that destroys a Nation, stokes up hopelessnes and weakens the Government in power. I think Jonathan was also making this point and I agree with him. As we speak soludo has made more effort to campaign more than every other candidate and yet 2 months to election you have already concluded what the elections result should be.

The story of Anambra state has been the story of the larger Nigeria. We must reject this scenario where opposition politicians refuse to campaign and when they eventually fail at the polls they run to the courts, hold the country or State and Government to ransom. They slow down the business of Governance and keeps the Nation in dilema until the election is decided.
In civilised world people campaign vigorously before elections so that when the process is over the victorious candidate is congratulated and the Nation moves forward to the business of Nation building. And yes PDP has a very dismal record as regards rigging. But I think the opposition is not being very helpful either. They dont campaign, they have no alternative policies or values. Their only policy is 'don't vote pdp'.
When they fail at the polls as a result of laziness and almost lack of attempt to seek the people's vote they run to court to get to office through short courts.
PDP will not be dislodged from Nigerian politics at the courts. They will have to loose on the battle field.

and by the way, the Uba camp went to obtain the court order to stop the primaries. NOT SOLUDO.

I think you should read less of the SUN.

Besides that, I also thought the court had no business giving anyone a court injuntion to stop the democratic process from taking place. We should be talking more how unhelpful the law courts have been. and we have not been doing that.

i dont know what i have done to your subordinate courts, supreme court help me become governor please!

[/quote][quote author=mikeansy link=topic=364524.msg5094826#msg5094826 date=1260560536]
Eziachi

I don't want to join issues with you but mark these few points.

1. Every Man is by nature a political animal. An individual is not a politician only to the extent that the dont wish to be involed.

2. I think it is arrogant to choose Soludo's career choice from him. Every political leader started life from somewhere. Some started as soldiers, some started as Businessmen, others are civil servants, others are teachers. If everyone stayed back where they started their careers there will be no political leaders.

3. The notion that if soludo wins the election then it has been rigged but if Obi or Ngige wins then its free and fair is the kind of prejudice that destroys a Nation, stokes up hopelessnes and weakens the Government in power. I think Jonathan was also making this point and I agree with him. As we speak soludo has made more effort to campaign more than every other candidate and yet 2 months to election you have already concluded what the elections result should be.

The story of Anambra state has been the story of the larger Nigeria. We must reject this scenario where opposition politicians refuse to campaign and when they eventually fail at the polls they run to the courts, hold the country or State and Government to ransom. They slow down the business of Governance and keeps the Nation in dilema until the election is decided.
In civilised world people campaign vigorously before elections so that when the process is over the victorious candidate is congratulated and the Nation moves forward to the business of Nation building. And yes PDP has a very dismal record as regards rigging. But I think the opposition is not being very helpful either. They dont campaign, they have no alternative policies or values. Their only policy is 'don't vote pdp'.
When they fail at the polls as a result of laziness and almost lack of attempt to seek the people's vote they run to court to get to office through short courts.
PDP will not be dislodged from Nigerian politics at the courts. They will have to loose on the battle field.

I don't want to join issue with you either but it seems you knew little about Anambra,Igboland or Soludo. Soludo trying to contest governoship position with the likes of Chris Uba and others like him is an insult to what he had achieved in life.
It is like Wole Soyinka going to Ogun State to contest to be governor with the likes of Gbenga Daniel.  Can you imagine what will become of him after all this intrigue that is completely alien to him?  Just because he want to join the gravy train of Nigeria mucky politics. Six years ago, Soludo is bigger than being a governor of Anambra state, if you knew this man as I do in England. It's heart breaking watching him making a fool of himself with crooks like Tony Aneni as godfather.

I think the likes of Chris Uba are running the show because folks like Soludo stayed away for too long.

It is time to turn the page.

Eziachi:

I don't want to join issue with you either but it seems you knew little about Anambra,Igoland or Soludo. Soludo trying to contest governoship position with the likes of Chris Uba and others like him is an insult to what he had achieved in life.
It is like Wole Soyinka going to Ogun State to contest to be governor with the likes of Gbenga Daniel.  Can you imagine what will become of him after all this intrigue that is completely alien to him?  Just because he want to join the gravy train of Nigeria mucky politics. Six years ago, Soludo is bigger than being a governor of Anambra state, if you knew this man as I do in England. It's heart breaking watching him making a fool of himself with crooks like Tony Aneni as godfather.

Nigerian scenario can be likened to the black hole,it sulks in any objects on its part with great velocity,rational minds disappears or mingle easily with the crooked system.

mikeansy:

I think the likes of Chris Uba are running the show because folks like Soludo stayed away for too long.

It is time to turn the page.

That is where you are absolutely wrong and a typical Nigerian mentality that to be anything or anybody to make an impact in life, you have to occupy a political office. The young Americans that established the likes of Twitter, facebook or Yahoo, has made impact in the life of people beyond the U.S shores more than the like of J.W Bush's of this world will ever dream of.  Soludo doesn't have to be the governor of Anambra to effect a change.

If the most noble or examplary Nigerian is asked today, how many politicians will make the first 100?

In a true democratic setting, I will even think he will make a better impact as a senator or representative member than being a governor in Awka. I don't know where you comes from, both in Igboland, our ancestors use to say that " a man does outgrow a certain types of food, in as much of how such nutirent found n such a delicacy".
The likes of Soludo, Soyinka, Achebe, Emeagwali or Gani are far bigger than decending to to become a governor to be answerable to people like OBJ or Yar Adua.

Will the supreme court favour Soludo?