With the 2013 Anambra State governorship election a toll away, a total of eight persons have declared their interest to contest the election from the Anambra North Senatorial District.
It would be recalled that the zone has been agitating for power shift in the forthcoming gubernatorial election, contending that it is yet to produce a governor since the creation of the state. This view is backed up by the incumbent Governor Peter Obi, who has openly announced his desire to hand over to the zone.
A breakdown of those eyeing the plum office include the vibrant former Senator and running mate to Professor Charles Soludo in the 2010 governorship poll, Chief Emmanuel Anosike; gubernatorial candidate of African Political System (APS), Dr. Alex Obiogbolu; Chief Press Secretary to Governor Peter Obi who was Obi’s running mate in the botched 2007 gubernatorial election, Mr. Mike Udah.
Also on the chess board are the member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Hon. Victor Ogene; former Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Paul Odenigbo; Paul Nnama; and Mr. Patrick Obianwu.
However, it is not clear yet if the current Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, has officially indicated interest, but feelers from the Government House has it that he is being tipped by those in the corridors of power as a replacement of his brother who was once a Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters Mr. Dubem Obaze, because of his intimidating curriculum vitae.
It was equally gathered that his position as SSG was borne out of the necessity to get him acclimatised with the workings of government before being nominated as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Commenting on the development, the chairman Omambala Forum and former Anambra State Chief Judge, Justice Chike Obidigwe, described it as a clear manifestation of the zone’s readiness to produce the next governor of the state. He stressed that there is no going back on that pursuit, arguing that it would amount to injustice if the zone is denied of that opportunity.
However, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Labour Party (LP) have contended that it is not automatic.
According to Mr. Path Ojiakor, chairman of ANPP in the state, “This is mere wishful thinking. Anambra Central and Anambra South did not clamour or negotiate for it so Anambra North should not expect anything automatic.”
To Prince Chuba Ikeagwu, state chairman of CPC, “This is not a tea party. May be APGA has zoned it to the North but other political parties have not done so and we would not be compelled by share sympathy to do so. If we do not have any credible aspirant from the North in our party we will not follow the crowd.”
On his part, Mr. Sam Oraegbunam, state chairman of the Labour Party, told News Express: “It would be very suicidal for a party to say we are zoning it to a particular area. If Anambra Central and Anambra South team up to produce one candidate in one party and the rest of the parties produce candidates from Anambra North, how will the North produce the next governor? So they should find a way of battling for it and not by shouting it is our turn. This is politics and not welfarism.”
Meanwhile, political activities have started putting their acts together following the announcement of November 17 as a likely date for the conduct of gubernatorial elections in Anambra State.
Also, most of the political parties have started holding meetings and mapping out unique strategies to knock the opponent out on the blow of the whistle while houses in disarray have resumed mending of fences.

•Photo: Governor Peter Obi favors a successor from Anambra North.

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