By Chidi Obineche
As the seconds tick towards the
November 16 governorship
election in Anambra State,
major candidates in the race are discernibly mapping out voting blocs. Amongst those whose electoral enclaves are clearly emerging are the standard bearers of the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance
(APGA), Chief Willie Obiano,
that of the Labour Party (LP),
Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, that of the
Progressive Peoples Alliance
(PPA), Dr Godwin Ezeemo, and the candidate of the All
Progressives Congress (APC),
Dr Chris Ngige. The confusion
in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with three aspirants laying claim to the ticket has made it difficult to establish a clear picture. However the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has picked Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu.
Based on this parameter, the
voting history of the state, and
other emerging dynamics, the
election is gradually being
narrowed down to a four-horse
race.
Obiano, Ubah, Ezeemo and
Ngige have made tremendous
inroads and impact.
Despite the crippling crisis in
APGA, the party on current
standing is still popular and has indices that may help it retain the seat. As the party in power, the incumbency factor should not be underestimated. The current governor’s
achievements in office, his
government’s commitment to
the mores, ethos and ennobling ideals of the people, especially in crime fighting has
engendered a populist
appreciation.
The popular perception of the
government is one that is
focused, and people -oriented.
National chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, who hails from the state describes Obi’s government “as the best, since the inception of the state”.
A chieftain of the party and
former governorship candidate
in Abia state in the 2011
elections, Ochiagha Reagan
Ufomba says “It is very close to
the people and understands
their needs, despite criticisms
from the opposition”.
•POSSIBLE VOTING TREND
The central senatorial zone may turn out to be a “Switch Zone”.
It is about the most heavily
populated zone in the state. The controversial 2006 population figures estimates the population of the zone to be over 1.6 million people. It is the zone of the sitting governor, Obi ,the National Chairman of the Party,
Chief Victor Umeh, and the
Deputy governorship candidate, Dr Nkem Okeke. Going by previous elections in the state, voters apathy is not very high.
Indeed, it was said to have
provided over half of the
winning votes for Obi in both
the 2003 and 2010 elections.
The very heavily populated
areas like Agulu, Enugwu Ukwu and towns in Awka North and South Local Government Areas (L.G.A), which always vote enbloc are expected to deliver huge votes to the APGA ticket.
This domino pattern of voting
has a remarkable tendency of
making it a battleground for
campaigns. The combined
weight of Obi, Umeh, and
Okeke in the zone will snuff-out Ngige of the APC who is also from the zone.
In Anambra North, which has
the toga of the unofficial
anointed zone to produce the
governor, sentiments are high
amongst the voting populace.
The people in the area see this
election as the best opportunity
for one of their sons to rule the
state for the first time.
Consciously, some of the parties took the ticket to the Zone. In this web is the APGA candidate Obiano This zone also has the distinguishing asset of harbouring riverine
communities. These
communities usually turn out to be battlegrounds and votes
switching enclaves in crucial
elections owing to the difficult
terrains that curtail accessibility to all.
•THE ELITE FACTOR
Anambra state thrives on
elitism. The elite corps in the
state is equally intimidating and has a bandwagon effect on the proletariat class during
elections. The south and central zones take over 75% of the elite in the state. Today, the elite in the state believe that Obi has done well. In an uncanny manner, Obi has pandered to their taste and interests especially on road construction and education.
Ipso facto, it follows that given
the background and intellect of
Obiano and Okeke, their
interests are secured.
•RELIGION
Catholicism is strong in the
zone as in the south and
definitely plays a defining role
in the voting pattern. Obi,
Umeh, Okeke, Obiano are all
Catholics, Ngige is also a
catholic. Catholics are said to be more numerous in the state.
Core values Despite its unending crisis, APGA is still perceived by the vast majority of the populace as the heart and soul of the Igbo man. Although its leader and
Igbo icon Chief Chukwuemeka
Odimegwu Ojukwu is dead, his
memory, beliefs and image will
surely stand in the gap in the
voting process.
•RHETORICS
While Obiano and APGA are
running high on several fronts,
Ubah of the LP has tenaciously
developed a high voters base
through philanthropy and
vigorous campaigns. He is
spared of the siege syndrome
imminent in most of the parties.
While other candidates are busy sorting out themselves from all forms of crises, Ubah has engaged in grassroots
mobilization and enthralling
outreach. Till date, he is the
only one that has formally
flagged-off his campaign and
has since taken the battle to the wards and local governments.
His campaign flag-off in his
stronghold of Nnewi in the
south senatorial zone a
forthnight ago was tumultuous.
If that is anything to go by, then the other contenders must have to sit up.
In the south where Ubah and
Ezeemo come from, there is a
perceptive sophisticated voting
bloc. They read the lips, and see beneath the veneer. Their
persuasions are different from
the normal rhetoric. This is the
home zone of the legendary
Ojukwu.
Ezeemo equally soars high in
this zone based on his pedigree
and philanthropy. The south is
clearly a battleground for all the leading contenders.
November 16 Recently, some politicians, especially those from the PDP hatched a plot to situate the choice of election date of November 16, by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a grand design to neutralise the late Ojukwu’s popularity with that of Nigeria’s first president and political colossus, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik). He was born on November 16, 1904.
This sentiment, which at best
could be a coincidence has been made a strategic campaign issue. Pitching the great Zik and the legendary Ojukwu has been
a favourite past time of
politicians since 1983, when the latter returned from exile in
Cote’divoire. Zik is from the
North, where a good percentage of the population are not given to “Igbo sentiments”.
A high voters bandwagon
stimuli is likely.
Some biographical sketches
•OBIANO: He is a distinguished
banker and technocrat, proven
public policy leader on
economic development,
financial accountability and
human resource development in the state and Nigeria. WMO
(Willie Maduabuchi Obiano)
leads with the combination of
hardwork, clarity, team spirit
and integrity.
His banking career began in
1981 at First Bank Nigeria
Plc..He moved to Texaco Nig
Plc as lead accountant
specializing in bunkering, lube-
bending and refinery audits.
Promoted four times in his 8 ½ years at Texaco he left as the Chief internal auditor. He
joined Fidelity bank in 1991 as
head of audit. He rose to
become executive director in
2003. He was the John F.
Kennedy Essay winner (1974) at CKC Onitsha.
He is a strong catholic and
belongs to many groups within
the church.
•VISION: For Anambra state to
become the first choice
investment destination and a
hub for industrialization and
commercial activities. His
economic agenda is embedded
on his mission to create a
socially stable business friendly
environment that will attract
both indigenes and foreigners to seek wealth creating
opportunities in Anambra state.
•UBAH: Though new on the
terrain,the Labour Party
candidate has notched
unprecedented advances. He is
from Nnewi, the hometown of
the late Ojukwu. His structures
in the state for now are the best
and well co-ordinated. His
choice of the L.P which is the
party of the working masses is
an edge.
•CAMPAIGN SLANT:
Inclusiveness and liberation
Philosophy: Pragmatic
development. He appeals more
to the youths and women who
constitute the core of the voting
populace. An estimated 70,000
people were at his campaign
flag-off, which evinced political
strength. He is the only one that
has publicly exposed his
manifesto, containing his action
plan to transform the state.
He is the only one with
television commercials and
radio jingles running in major
stations. This shows
seriousness. He has done
extensive road shows. In his
speech at the flag-off campaign,
he promised to create 40,000
jobs within 100 days. On
business which the state is
noted for, he pledged:“my
government will establish the
Anambra state development
agency to provide advisory,
financial and logistic support to
our youth apprentices to start
their own individual enterprises
after acquiring the necessary
trading skills from their
business masters.
On transparency and probity,
he pledged to publish audited
accounts of the state every three
months.
•NGIGE
Highly cerebral and populist. A
medical doctor by profession.
He is firmly rooted in the
politics of the state and has
contested every governorship
election since 2003. He is from
Alor in the densely populated
south.
•CAMPAIGN SLANT: Re-enactment
of his past legacies as governor
of the state.
•PHILOSOPHY: Welfarist
•EZEEMO
From relative obscurity, he has
steadily marched to the centre
stage of prominence. He has
built a strong political base
especially in the churches in the
state. As they say, religion is the
opium of the masses. He is at
home with the elite as he is with
the masses.
CAMPAIGN THRUST: Re-
invigoration of the objectives of
the creation of the state.
Philosophy: Kinship values.
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/politics/anambra-guber-strongholds-and-battle-grounds-of-the-leading-gladiators/

1st 2 view nd comment... #NoComments

How much were u paid to campaign for APGA... Ngige associated himself with our enemies and should be voted out.

Even goats in Anambra State are shouting UP APGA!!!!

Putting party aside. Of all contenders OBIANO seem more qualified.
let us do it for him
let us do it for Anambra state