The gubernatorial primary election for major contenders of the upcoming Anambra State gubernatorial election scheduled for November 2021 has come and gone. All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) nominated former governor of Nigeria Central Bank, Professor Charles Soludo. There is a faction of APGA who are claiming to be the authentic APGA and doing everything possible to create division and mar APGA chances in the general election. I do not think they will succeed in derailing his candidacy.
Young Progressive party (YPP) nominated a Nigerian sitting senator, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah without any conflict or faction. YPP is a small political party and not well known. Ifeanyi Ubah used the party to become a senator and now a gubernatorial candidate. He got to where he is today politically on the strength of his personality and name recognition. He has ran for governor under PDP for years.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) selected Valentine Ozigbo as their candidate. A faction of PDP nominated Senator Ugochukwu Ubah, no relation to Ifeanyi Ubah as their gubernatorial candidate. This PDP faction who nominated Senator Ugocchukwu Ubah may not succeed in derailing Mr. Ozigbo’s candidacy.
All Progressive Congress (APC) nominated former Senator, Andy Ubah to be their flag bearer in the November gubernatorial election. Their candidate does not have support of some notable APC party chieftain in the state such as the minister of Labor, Mr. Ngige who supported another candidate. Mr. Ngige who knows Anambra politics very well probably thinks that Andy Ubah will not be a viable candidate.
The upcoming Anambra state gubernatorial election will be driven by the personality, experience, and past accomplishments of the aspirants than political party affiliation. This election was supposed to be the last hurrah for APGA in Anambra state. This is the year PDP was supposed to vanquish APGA finally. It was going to be the case until the current governor, Mr. Willie Obiano recruited Charles Soludo, former Central Bank Governor to run for governor under APGA. Another significant achievement for APGA which made Anambra residents to take a second look at APGA was the current governor’s unveiling of a brand-new international airport in Anambra state, a feat no other governor has achieved.
APGA for the past couple of years have served as a refuge for Anambra residents. Peoples Democratic Party which ruled Anambra state the first four years after democracy was restored performed very badly. Dr. Ngige of PDP was subsequently elected and performed admirable before he was kidnapped by his political godfather and removed from office within 3 years by the court for alleged rigging of election. The turmoil PDP brought to Anambra made Anambra citizens to move away from the major political parties.
This governorship election which will take place in November 2021 will be a two-man race between APGA Candidate, Professor Charles Soludo, and Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressive Party if the election is free and fair. The edge goes to APGA candidate, Charles Soludo. However, the considerable effort that is underway to scuttle his candidacy before Anambra residents will get the opportunity to cast their vote for him should be closely watched. There was a shooting in one of his past rallies which resulted in the death of a policeman assigned to protect him.
Their action of the lower court will be a short-term setback for Mr. Soludo of APGA. He will prevail at the end and be the Gubernatorial candidate for APGA.
The upcoming election will be a consequential one for the people of Anambra state. If a wrong candidate is elected, the resources and treasury of Anambra state will be depleted.