By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The decamping of six Anambra State House of Assembly members from the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) may turn out to be the eventual cocking of the bottle in disguise.

The incident, which took place in Abuja on Tuesday came barely two months to the November 6 governorship election in the state, arousing fear that the ruling APGA has been kicked below the belt.

Though the leadership of the party in the state is yet to speak on the matter, the APC on its part is gradually but steadily dusting, patching, remodelling and channeling its water in the right direction.

So far, big wigs like Senators Joy Emodi, Stella Oduah, Hon Tony Nwoye, and Chris Azubogu from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have all dumped the party for the APC. Hate them or love them, an adage says, he who holds the palm frond attracts the followership of the goat.

To political watchers, the recent crossover of many Anambra political heavy weights to the ruling APC is a telltale sign that the party is poised to take over the Agu-Awka seat of power come March 2022.

There are indications that Senator Uche Ekwunife, who is also the chairman of PDP gubernatorial candidate’s campaign council, may also cross over to the APC. For instance, a devout follower of the senator said the lawmaker is yet to tell them who to support with regard to the November 6 governorship election.

Her words: “Nooo, Ozigbo is not our man; we are still waiting to know who to follow. Iyom has not yet told us who to support. We are waiting for her direction.”

Though, the general notion is that Anambra State is far from being an APC state, people are apprehensive that the federal might may decide to stage a repeat of what happened in Imo State.

A pointer to that stance is the statement by the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, that the party will employ all arsenals within its reach to ensure APC takes over Anambra State.

Also, President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement that he is waiting for Andy Uba’s victory is another dimension to the game plan to take over the state.

Even though some of the new entrants may be taking the bold walk of shame to ensure a firm grip of their positions, the incumbent administration on its part is not backing down.

The State Governor during the presentation of Prof Charles Soludo as its governorship candidate after its primary election in Awka vowed that the party will retain its winning streak. “We are going to get another 20/20,” he declared.

The gut statement depicts a warrior that is not ready to back down from a fight no matter the thorns on the way. But, despite the bold statement, the cock party needs to first screw up the loose ends by reaching out to aggrieved members of the party.

Like APC, which despite not being the favourite of Anambra electorate is working hard to mend fences with all concerned. For example, the party’s governorship candidate, Uba has been reaching out to aggrieved members of the party to not only withdraw their pending cases in court but to also queue behind him to ensure victory for the party at the poll.

No doubt, the entrance of six state lawmakers to APC fold will serve as an added vigour to the party’s strength because of their grassroots presence, but, that is if they truly hold sway in their constituencies.

However, another major clog in the wheel of progress for the APC and its candidate in Anambra State is the dent on the name Uba occasioned by the infamous political rancour championed by his younger brother and self-acclaimed god-father of Anambra politics, Chris Uba, during the administration of Dr Chris Ngige in 2004.

Suspected political thugs said to be loyal to his faction of the then ruling PDP had attacked government offices, burnt cars and two studios of the state-owned radio station. The sitting governor was not only molested, he was also abducted but by chance he was saved by a good citizen of the state that gave him phone to make the breaking call from hell.

The infamous brouhaha is a kind of sore in the heart of the people of Anambra State, hence their dislike for the Ubas.

Also, there are fillers that Uba, if elected, will give a free way to open grazing in the state. An inside source said that allowing for open grazing in Anambra is one of the conditions placed on the table by the powers that be for Uba, if he must be supported to win November 6 governorship election.

But, until the dice is cast, there is no way to know the score. The question is, will Uba be the new messiah or the fallen villain?

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