The duo of Senator Chris Ngige and Chief Willie Obiano, governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, respectively are currently on their wits end in a bid to win the governorship seat of Anambra State in the forthcoming election.
Ngige, since he was booted out of office in 2006, has rightly constituted himself into a one-man-opposition to Governor Peter Obi’s administration, and the election of Chief Obiano as the flagbearer of APGA, a move deemed to have been spearheaded by Obi has extended Ngige’s rivalry to the him (Obiano).
On the other hand, the leadership of the APGA are not under-rating the powers of Ngige in the state, and as such have also marked him as the number one man to beat in the election if their candidate will make it to the government house. This has led both candidates to see each other as arch rivals.
Matters came to a head last month when Ngige moved to the home town of Obiano, Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state to pick a running mate in the person of Dr Mike Aghadinuno, an academician, with the hope of using him to weaken the powers of Obiano in the area.
Though Ngige last week announced a change in the choice of a running mate, he did not go far from Aguleri as he settled for a two term federal legislator, Dr. Ralph Okeke who hails from Nzam, in neighbouring Anambra West Local Government Area.
Ngige’s later choice was predicated on the fact that three candidates running for the election were already from Anambra West, and that will clearly divide Obiano’s votes, and there was need for him to go for another part of Anambra North to grab votes and further block Obiano’s chances.
As if the rivalry was not enough, just hours after Ngige called together journalists in his campaign headquarters in Awka on Thursday night to unveil his 12-point agenda for the state, Obiano as early as 7 am the next day was at Trig Point hotel also in Awka to present his 10-point agenda.
In the course of the presentation, which carried almost the same points, the duo displayed eloquence, stating point by point how they intend to develop the state using their respective agenda.
A source that craved anonymity also hinted DailyPost that both APC and APGA had earlier before choosing their running mates wooed aspirants who are feeling aggrieved as a result of the victory of both candidates in their parties.
While Ngige went on to woo APGA’s Dr. Chike Obidigbo who had cross carpeted to the faction of the party led by Barr Maxi Okwu to fly a factional flag, the Obiano team had also approached then APC’s Mr. Godwin Ezeemo who is now the PPA flag bearer after he lost to Ngige in a primary election.
The idea is to use the running mates to further cause a decline in the popularity of the other candidates.
Today (Monday), both men will be holding elaborate flag off campaigns in the state to speak to the people of the state on the need to vote them to power.
While Ngige will be at Emmaus House in Awka, Obiano will be at Holy Trinity Catholic Cathedral in Onitsha.
A source from APGA denied that the party was copying Ngige, insisting that APC was always fond of waiting for APGA’s next move before planning to match them.
The source insisted that APC had earlier announced 3rd October as their flag off date, but on realizing that APGA was holding theirs decided to shift theirs to the same date with APGA’s.
It was gathered that APC in the country, especially from the South-West, had mobilized all its governors to ensure they make an in-road into Anambra, just as it is expected today that all APC members from Imo, Edo and Lagos State, including their governors will storm the state in colourful Ankara clothe.
It could be recalled that during the inauguration of the campaign team of Ngige in Awka, Imo State governor who led the team had boosted that he would relocate to Anambra soon to ensure delivery for Ngige, while also stating that he would mobilise his contacts, wealth and power to make sure that Ngige was returned to the government house, Awka.
Meanwhile, the APGA governorship candidate will rely on state government machinery in the flag off of his campaigns in Onitsha.
Obiano will also use the instrument of Governor Obi to solicit federal support especially with Anambra PDP in tatters.
Comments