Politics
2014: Anambra Up For Grabs
Come March 17, 2014, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State will be bowing out from office having served his people for two terms. Govenor Obi who contested the gubernatorial election in Anambra State on the platform of All Progressives Grands Alliance (APGA) in 2003 came into office 33 months later, following the ouster of Dr. Chris Ngige of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) through an Appeal Court judgement.
Before Governor Obi took over the mantle of leadership in Anambra State his predecessor, Dr. Ngige, a physician of notable standing had successfully carried out a surgical operation on the sickly state as a result of the malaise of maladministration occasioned by the visionless leadership of Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju. It was while the state was recuperating under the able hands of Dr. Ngige who had embarked on a number of developmental projects that power was transferred to Governor Obi on March 17, 2006.
Although Governor Obi was a successful businessman before he ventured into politics his election into the exalted office was facilitated by Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the founder of APGA, the Ikemba Nnewi and Eze Igbo Gburugburu who commanded the respect of the Ndigbo. Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu, an adorable leader of his people hailed from Anambra State, and for his sake Anambra State was delivered to Governor Obi twice on the platform of APGA.
However, Governor Obi has been able to provide purposeful leadership to the people of Anambra State in the past seven years.
According to observers, his development programme, Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS) which was unveiled in the days of his administration has taken care of some of the developmental needs of his people. Apart from ensuring prudence in the management of the state treasury, Governor Obi has made remarkable impact on the health and education sectors as well as youth empowerment. Indeed, history will have him as one of those who left enduring legacies in Anambra State.
But one thing that is very common with politicians that have occupied elective positions is their unquenchable thirst for power. For a man of his political status observers are of the view that Governor Obi will be aspiring for a national office.
Speaking at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Asata, Enugu recently, Governor Obi said he would quit politics at the end of his tenure.
“For me, I have come to the end of it. I want to quit and rest. However, I have been praying to God that for the sake of the good people of Anambra State, please give them somebody like Peter Obi”, he said.
As Governor Obi’s tenure is fast winding up, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the Anambra State gubernational poll for November 16, this year. Consequently, governorship aspirants of the major poltical parties in the country have lined up for the juicy office.
While it was easy for Governor Obi to win election in 2003 and 2010 through the enormous support and influence of late Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu the coast appears to be hazy for APGA in the forthcoming election due to the intra-party wranglings that pollarised the party for a length of time. Fortunately, Governor Obi and the embattled National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh have resolved their differences, but they need to redouble their effort so as to reposition the party to regain the confidence of the Anambrarians. In fact, Governor Obi should rise to occasion by proving skeptics wrong that APGA was buried alongside the Late Ikemba.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) equally has a chance to win the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Anambra State if the warring factions in the party will sheathe their swords and work together for their common good. Presently, the party controls two Senatorial seats and a sizeable number of seats in the House of Representatives and the State House of Assembly. It is therefore, incumbent on the party leadership at the national level to ensure that the right thing is done for peace to reign.
Recently, business mogul, Ifeanyi Uba declared his intention to contest the gubernatorial poll on the platform of the Labour Party. Although, he is being dismissed in certain quarters as political neophyte, observers are of the view that he could spring surprises because of his financial musile which is a major factor in politics.
Also in the race is former Governor Chris Ngige who is currently the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly. In a letter dated July 24, 2013 and addressed to the Senate President, David Mark, Senator Ngige formally notified the Senate of his intention to participate in the gubernatorial election.
“Mr. President and distinguished colleagues, in the last three months or so, I have been incundated with calls, text messages and visits by many people from my home state, Anambra, and the messages had remained the same, ‘we need you back home as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of our State come March 17, 2014.
“It has been a very difficult decision for me to take and I have consulted extensively with my family, political associates, colleagues and the people.
“My people think that I would be better as their governor again. They have asked; they have eajoled; they have persuaded; they have demanded; they have called and they are praying that I answer their call to come and govern the state again.
“I have had the honour and privilege of serving them in this capacity before from May 2003 – March 2006.
“They were kind enough to send me to this Senate to show me immense goodwill they have for me. It is therefore, not a personal ambition any longer for me to become Governor of Anambra State.
“However, the cry and the demand of my people have been a source of incredible pressure and have increased tremendously with the release of the election timetable two weeks ago by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“I have concluded consultations and now find it necessary to officially inform this Senate that I will be an aspirant and hopefully a candidate in the election.
“Please wish me luck and pray for me, even if you are not of my party. I am of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) stock, but for this journey I intend to use the vehicle of Progressives – our newly merged political party – the All Progressives Congress (APC)”, he said.
The Anambra gubernatorial poll is indeed gaining momentum, it is our hope that the electorate will be guided by their conscience in choosing the right person for the job.
Rt Hon. Abbas secured the party’s ticket through an affirmation exercise conducted across the 13 electoral wards in the constituency.
The wards involved include Kwarbai A, Kwarbai B, Limancin-Kona, Unguwar Fatika, Unguwar Juma, Dutsen Abba, Gyallesu, Kufena, Dambo, Wuchichiri, Tudun Wada, Tukur-Tukur, and Kaura.
The exercise, which began simultaneously in all wards at about 10 a.m., recorded large turnout of APC members who gathered at various party offices across the constituency.
At Kwarbai B Ward, the Speaker’s ward, the process was conducted peacefully under the supervision of the ward APC Returning Officer, Malam Iliyasu Muhammad Balarabe, in the presence of Rt Hon. Abbas.
According to the ward APC secretary, Nafiu Sabo, the ward has over 10,000 registered members, but 220 members were accredited for the exercise.
Before the affirmation, Mallam Balarabe informed members that Rt Hon Abbas was the only aspirant who purchased nomination forms, underwent screening, and was cleared by the APC national leadership to contest the Zaria Federal Constituency seat.
Following a voice vote by accredited members, the Speaker was affirmed as the party’s candidate in the ward, a process replicated across the remaining 12 wards.
At the constituency collation centre, the APC Returning Officer for the House of Representatives primary in Zaria Federal Constituency, Dr. Hamisu Ibrahim Kubau, announced that 1,376 APC members across the 13 wards endorsed Rt Hon. Abbas as the party’s flag bearer.
He explained that although thousands of party members participated in the exercise, only accredited delegates were allowed to vote.
Dr. Kubau declared: “There are 13 wards in Zaria Federal Constituency, and only one aspirant purchased a form, was screened, and cleared. He is Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen. After due process, we conducted affirmations across all wards.”
He added that the process was peaceful and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party representatives.
Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Elections in Kaduna State, Senator Yakubu Oseni, described the outcome as a reflection of the Speaker’s popularity and acceptance among constituents.
He expressed confidence that Rt Hon Abbas would secure victory in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking after his declaration, Rt Hon. Abbas expressed appreciation to APC members for reaffirming their confidence in him.
The incumbent Reps including Emily Inyang and Godwin Offionio, in separate interviews
protested the handling of the primaries conducted by the leadership of the party in the state, saying it was skewed against them.
The aspirants further described the primaries as a charade and an embarrassment to the state.
According to them, the House of Representatives primaries fell short of the provisions of both the Electoral Act as amended in 2026 and the party’s constitution.
They accused the leadership of the party in the state, backed by Governor Bassey Otu, of violating the party’s constitution in the conduct of the House of Representatives primaries across the state on Saturday.
Hon. Godwin Offiono, representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, particularly expressed disappointment with the primary that allegedly disenfranchised registered members of the party in his constituency.
Hon. Offiono asserted that having failed to arrive at a consensus, the party leadership opted for a direct primary to decide the candidate for the 2027 election.
“But what I witnessed today was not only alarming, but quite disheartening that our electoral system have not shown any improvement, especially now that we have a man of God in the person of the governor as the leader of the party.
“How do you declare a result by 9:00am even when the electoral materials were yet to arrive at Yala.
“As an aspirant, I couldn’t even vote or see the materials for my own primary at my Okuku ward in Yala Local Government Area, where I come from. But no matter what happens I am still in the race and have not stepped down for anybody.
“The governor had all the time in the world to drive the process of consensus but he never did. As a representative, I cannot even see my governor. I called, no response. I sent text no reply. I am treated as an out cast,” he lamented.
In an emotion laden tone during a telephone interview, Hon. Offiono further said: “I could not believe that first term NASS members like me can be treated in this shoddy manner even when I don’t know my offence.
“I have been a loyal party man. I appeal to the governor to do the right thing, follow the Electoral Act and party constitution in electing representatives.”
Similarly, Hon. Emil Inyang of Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency said he still remained in the race and had not stepped down for anybody.
According to him, “If this shenanigan called primary is allowed to stand, it would affect the party’s fortune in the general elections.
“My appeal to the governor is to allow the people to decide. And if they so voted against me, I will rest and not fight over anything.
“There was no stakeholders meeting held to decide on anything before now, and someone can not be unilaterally imposed on us all in the name of compromised primary,” he stated.
A coalition of support groups within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has protested the disqualification of former presidential aspirant, Mr Tein Jack-Rich, from the Rivers West Senatorial race ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 general elections.
The groups, in a statement issued on Saturday morning in Abuja, described the action of the party’s screening committee as unjust and capable of worsening internal divisions within the APC in Rivers State.
The statement, signed by the coalition’s National Coordinator, Dr. Bilal Galadima, and General Secretary, Hon. James Ogenyi, accused the party leadership in Rivers State of favouring politicians loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, while sidelining long-standing members of the APC.
The coalition alleged that only aspirants aligned with Chief Wike were cleared to contest for elective positions in the state.
“How can our party allow only one man who is not a member of our party to make decisions or dictate the direction of our party?”, the group queried.
The coalition specifically faulted the exclusion of Mr Jack-Rich, describing him as a loyal party member who had supported the APC for more than 13 years and previously contested the party’s presidential ticket.
It also questioned the alleged clearance of Chief Felix Obua, whom it described as a recent entrant into the party and an ally of Chief Wike.
“How can our party disqualify Jack-Rich, a former presidential aspirant who has been loyal and supported our party for the last 13 years, only for our party to choose Felix Obua, a Wike loyalist who only joined the party three months ago?”, the statement read.
The group warned that failure by the APC leadership and National Working Committee (NWC) to address the matter as it could weaken the party’s structure in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
It called on party leaders to uphold internal democracy, reward loyalty and ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.
INEC TO BEGIN MEMBERSHIP VERIFICATION AS POLITICAL PARTIES SUBMIT REGISTER
All 22 registered political parties have successfully submitted their membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, the Commission has said.
In a statement issued on Friday, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Mohammed Haruna, said the submission followed the extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, regarding the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general elections.
He said, “The Commission is pleased to note that all registered parties submitted their registers as of 8th May 2026, two days before the extended deadline.”
He recalled that following a meeting with political parties, the Commission, in a statement issued on the 27th of March, 2026, adjusted the deadline for the submission of party registers from 21st April 2026 to 10th May 2026 to align with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the actual dates fixed by political parties for their primaries.
Mr Haruna noted that political parties were accordingly allowed to conduct their primaries within the approved period from 23rd April 2026 to 30th May 2026, while the register of party members was required to be submitted to the Commission not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.
He added, “INEC wishes to state that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and will subject the submitted registers to the necessary verification processes in line with the law.”
The Commission restated its commitment to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.
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