There are many political parties fielding candidates for the Anambra Central senatorial contest, but the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) are the serious contenders in the race.
The Anambra Central senatorial race in next year’s general election will be a four-way contest. Though will be many political parties on the ballot on the day of the election, those seriously in the contest are the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Labour Party (LP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). This is based on not just the antecedents of the parties, but their current state and relationship with the people at the moment.
The APGA’s senatorial ticket was won by Dozie Nwankwo, who currently represents Anaocha, Dunukofia and Njikoka Federal Constituency at the National Assembly. The other candidates are Chief Kodilinye Okelekwe of the APC, Senator Victor Umeh of the LP and Senator Uche Lilian Ekwunife of the PDP.
The battle line is drawn among the contestants, as each and every one of them has one or two points to prove during the election, scheduled to hold on February 25, 2023. Anambra Central is made up of seven local government areas. They are Anaocha, Awka North, Awka South, Dunukofia, Njikoka, Idemili North and Idemili South.
Ekwunife of the PDP is a two-term senator for the zone, while Umeh of the LP was once there. The only dark horse in the Anambra Central race is Okelekwe of the APC.
The contest among the parties will be a test case for the political heavyweights in the area, who belong to the different political parties. Some of the political juggernauts in the zone are the oil mogul, Prince Arthur Eze, Senator Ben Ndi Obi, the presidential candidate of the LP, Peter Obi and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige.
Though Eze does not belong to any of the political parties, his influence in the past had been instrumental in determining who represents the zone. Ndi Obi belongs to the PDP and he even represented the zone in the past. Not only that, he is also a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT).
Peter Obi’s influence will also be crucial in the election. He dumped the PDP just before the recent presidential primary in protest and joined the LP. His subsequent emergence as the party’s presidential candidate has elevated its status in the Southeast state. Therefore, his influence has been propelling the party’s candidates at various levels.
Ngige, who was a former governor represented the zone before now on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Today, he is the leader of the APC and, equally, has a statement to make.
The Anambra Central senatorial contest is not going to be an easy one. Two out of the three senators currently representing the state at the Senate were elected on the platform of the PDP. They are Senator Stella Oduah who represents Anambra North and Uche Ekwunife, the lawmaker representing Anambra Central in the Red Chamber. The third representative of the state in the upper legislative chamber is Senator Ifeanyi Ubah who was elected on the platform of the Young Progressive Party (YPP). He is representing Anambra South in the chamber.
The contest in Anambra Central is likely to be toughest, with Umeh joining forces with Obi in the LP. The APGA candidate, Nwankwo, will be looking up to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the leader of the party, to convince the people to vote for him during the election. But, the APC candidate, Okelekwe, has the least chance among the four front-runners, because the people of Anambra, nay Southeast are still sceptical about the party.
Now, take a look at the individual candidates and their antecedents that could shape the senatorial contest next year.
Dozie Nwankwo (APGA):
They refer to him as a deaf and dumb lawmaker in Anambra State, but his supporters do not agree with the sobriquet attached to their man.
Dozie Nwankwo is a two-term House of Representatives member representing Anaocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia Federal Constituency. The lawmaker is not new in the politics of the zone. He once defeated Ekwunife in a contest for the zone’s House of Representatives seat. He nearly retired her.
During the recent APGA primary in June where he won the senatorial ticket, Nwankwo defeated the former APGA national chairman, Umeh, to the amazement of all. Defeating Umeh in that contest was not a mean feat. The lawmaker was dubbed Dozie-dollar as an acknowledgement of his success in that race.
Nevertheless, political observers do not see him emerging as the winner of next year’s contest for several reasons. They are of the view that it will be another era of waste at the National Assembly if he is elected. They believe that Nwankwo, in his 40s, is not ripe enough to occupy such a high office as the Senate seat because he has not done well in the House of Representatives so far.
But, his supporters say such comments from some of the delegates should not arise because, according to them, Nwankwo has done more than his colleagues for his people. One such supporter, Lady Ebele Okafor, told The Nation that Nwankwo is a silent operator that does not believe in noise-making.
Okafor said Nwankwo’s empowerment programme covers the entire zone, not only the areas he represents currently. She added that no elected person in Anambra can compete with him in that aspect.
Nwankwo is the younger brother to the wife of the former Rivers State Governor and former Transport Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. One of the major challenges to his ambition, however, is his snobbish attitude.
Uche Ekwunife (PDP):
Most people refer to her as ‘the Iron lady of Anambra politics’ alongside others like Senator Joy Emodi, Stella Oduah and former governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba. Ekwunife was a two-term member of the House of Representatives before her journey to the Senate, where she currently, represents Anambra Central.
Today, she holds the PDP senatorial ticket from the zone and has a big battle on her hands. She was once a banker, where she rose to the position of zonal manager before delving into politics.
Ekwunife has always been a dogged fighter in politics; she never gives up. But the momentum being generated within the current wing of the LP and the APGA may deny her the opportunity of going back to the Red Chamber next year.
The Nation gathered that she has the secret backing of Governor Soludo, despite being in a different party. Both political leaders are from what they call the ‘Old Aguata Union’ (OAU). While Soludo hails from Isuofia, Ekwunife was born in Igboukwu, two neighbouring communities.
In Aguata, it’s always difficult to see their sons and daughter going against each other when it comes to such situations. It had been like that and stood firm during Dr Alex Ekwueme era. Some political observers have described the senator as arrogant and vindictive, but some of her political associates describe the allegation as a mere ranting from political opponents.
Again, they accuse the former banker of being selfish and only assist the people whenever she wants something from them. Her supporters have also debunked it, saying she has a heart of gold and is known for her philanthropy not only in her area but beyond.
Samuel Okafor, a civil servant from Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area, said “Ekwunife is a good woman and not what some people are accusing her of”. The last time she won the Senate seat in 2019, she rode on the back of Peter Obi to triumph because of (Atikuobi) influence in Anambra (the acronym for Atiku and Obi presidency).
Today, that bandwagon effect may elude her because Obi has jumped ship and he is today the presidential candidate of the LP. Furthermore, she has to contend with the crisis rocking his PDP in Anambra State, which has led many people to dump the party to join Obi in the LP.
However, Ekwunife is a solid candidate for the senatorial seat, but the fight will not be an easy one.
Victor Umeh (LP):
Umeh who hails from Aguluzoigbo, Anaocha Local Government Area, is a solid and fearless politician. He was the national chairman of the APGA for over 10 years. As APGA national chairman, he made a big impact in making the party the third force in Nigeria.
When he left the party’s leadership position he was elected to represent his Anambra Central senatorial zone.
Hope Nwandu, who is widely regarded as the leader of widows in Anambra State, said: “Umeh is one politician that can give you audience, no matter who you are. He’s not like the other selfish ones. He has an interest in widows, the needy and the less privileged in society. His philanthropy is second to none and we are ready to fight anyone that will want to stop him from going to the Senate again.”
It was shocking in June during the APGA primary when the result was announced and Umeh lost the ticket to one of his political sons, Dozie Nwankwo. The loss was not ordinary as the primary was dubbed ‘dollar rain ‘. Besides, it was gathered that the powers that be in APGA ganged up against him to make sure he didn’t win the ticket.
But, that loss brought him together again with former Governor Peter Obi, who heard about the situation and called him over to the LP; knowing Umeh’s capability in politics. Immediately, the party conducted its primary, and Umeh was picked as the Anambra Central senatorial candidate of the LP. He thus described his reunion with Obi as “God’s divine intervention”.
Umeh is one of the political plywood and mahoganies in Anambra State and indeed, Southeast. He never loses his voice in any matter concerning Ndigbo. The man who is either addressed as Ohamadike or Ibobo, two of his numerous traditional titles, is seen as the man the cap fits.
However, Umeh has some political rivers to cross before getting to his destination. But one of the good things in his favour is the Obi effect which is sweeping across the length and breadth of the state and the country in general.
Many people think it will be difficult for him to win on the platform of the LP because of what they refer to as a lack of structure. But, Umeh’s name alone and that of Obi are enough structures in Anambra State.
Meanwhile, political watchers believe that Umeh stepped on many toes in Anambra Central senatorial zone and, indeed, the entire state during his tenure as APGA chairman and that may affect his chances of winning the election.
Even at that, many of the stakeholders in the district believe that he still holds the ace against the other three opponents.
Another APGA stalwart who did not want to be quoted said “what Umeh did for students through scholarships alone, will give him victory”. He added: “Not only that, he is one of the few politicians in Anambra State that answer their calls after electing them. Many others, including those contesting against him in the other parties, do not answer ordinary calls.
“My brother, we’re no longer in the same party, but I bet you, Umeh is one of the politicians difficult to defeat in any election.”
Kodilinye Okelekwe (APC):
Ubom Nibo as he is fondly called in the entire Anambra by all and sundry needs no further introduction in the State. An old politician, but has never occupied any elective position in the State. But he served as Abuja liaison Officer for the Anambra State government during the administration of former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju. Okelekwe also contested the governorship ticket of the PDP in 2011 and was schemed out.
He left the political scene to focus on his other business ventures until he later joined the APC. Today, the Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area-born politician, holds the APC senatorial ticket for Anambra Central.
The Nation