How Peter Obi’s tsunami retired well-known Anambra Politicians 

OKECHUKWU ONUEGBU from Awka writes that although the 2023 general elections have come and gone, the event still needed telling because its outcome will hopefully reshape and strengthen the political history of Anambra state. 

The surprises 

The election is still greeted with mixed feelings nationwide given its interesting outcome in the state with many surprisingly smiling the way to elected positions while others cried for their unexpected defeat.

As predicted by the Blueprint’s edition of January 19, 2023, four major political parties had outstanding performances at the 2023 polls. The parties were Labour Party (LP), the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Young Progressive Party (YPP).

The Obi factor

At the national level, it was a “bomber harvest” for a relatively ‘unknown’ and ‘structureless’ Labour Party (LP) as it won two Senatorial seats. LP was driven by the ‘Obidient Movement’, otherwise referred to as supporters of Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of LP. 

Obi, a former governor of Anambra state, has been a force to reckon with since Supreme Court ruled that it was he, the APGA gubernatorial candidate that won the 2003 election and not PDP earlier declared by the INEC. 

He led the state for two terms of eight years, first of it kind, winning many subsequent legal battles and handing over to APGA governor in 2014.

In 2015 general elections when it became official that he had left APGA to PDP, most of the candidates of his new love (PDP) won the National Assembly poll.

PDP won all the three senatorial seats, the whole 11 House of Representatives seats and four States House of Assembly seats out of thirty. For 2019 general elections, when Obi was a running mate to the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, PDP won two Senatorial seats with 7 House of Representatives seats, and 6 State Assembly seats, YPP got one Senatorial seat, while APGA won four House of Representatives seats and 26 State Assembly seats. 

Reason for the LP fortunes 

Therefore, the fortunes of the LP in the just concluded 2023 general elections is not unexpected. Obi had consistently campaigned for all the candidates of LP nationwide. 

In Anambra, specifically, he toured markets, strategic locations, streets, communities and Local Government headquarters, re-emphasising the need for LP candidates to be voted for. 

Hence, the party won presidential elections in all the 21 local government areas, scoring 584,621 votes against the 9036 votes gotten by his closest rival, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Similarly, LP candidates for Anambra North, Hon. Tony Nwoye and Senator Victor Umeh of Anambra Central, were able to retire two serving senators and candidates of PDP, Stella Oduah and Uche Ekwunife, respectively.

Umeh, a former National Chairman of APGA, had been in a political battle with Ekwunife after his alleged refusal to allow her return to the green chamber for a third term in 2015 APGA national primary elections. 

Umeh finished his tenure as National Chairman of APGA in 2015 and was elected as senatorial candidate of the party ahead of 2015 general elections. Ekwunife, who was then representing Dunukofia, Njikoka and Anaocha federal Constituency under APGA, reportedly switched to PDP to aspire for senatorial seat so as to battle Umeh for rejecting her political movement. 

It payed off for her as she later emerged the senatorial candidate of PDP for the same Anambra Central senatorial district and went further to win the main election.

Umeh, Emwunife debacle resolved 

Umeh challenged her election at the Election Petition Tribunal, and in 2016, got Enugu division of Appeal Court to nullify her election on ground of faulty nomination as well as stopped her party, PDP, from participating on the subsequent by-election held on 13 January, 2018 after more litigations. 

Umeh defeated other contestants that participated in the election and represented the senatorial district from January 19, 2018 to June 12, 2019. His attempts to return to the Senate as candidate of APGA in 2019 poll was again, foiled by Ekwunife, the then PDP senatorial candidate. 

For 2023 general elections, Umeh stepped in to participate in the APGA National Assembly primary but was ‘overthrown’ by the current member representing Dunukofia, Njikoka and Anaocha federal Constituency, Hon. Dozie Nwankwo. 

He saw it as a conspiracy within the party hierarchy, probably because, in 2014 APGA gubernatorial primary, the current governor and national leader of APGA, Professor Chukwuma Soludo was disqualified from participating in the election, having joined few months back then. 

He was the then National Chairman of APGA, while Obi was governor and had insisted that he would handover power to someone from Anambra North not Anambra South (where Soludo hails from). 

Perhaps, Umeh was pained more that he lost primary to someone he gave APGA flag as House of Representatives candidate in 2015, and for having served the party meritoriously, especially on Anambra 2021 governorship poll where he voluntarily worked as the party agent for Soludo’s election.

Having failed to secure the ticket of APGA, Umeh grabbed the opportunity opened by Obi’s emergence as the LP presidential flag bearer, and was subsequently elected as a Senatorial candidate for the party in Anambra Central. 

He was happy because he would contend with same ‘old’ political foes- Ekwunife and Nwankwo. However, his words throughout the electioneering campaign showed that he was sure of victory. He told journalists that his reason for joining LP was because Obi called him to join him in rescuing Nigeria. 

“Nigerians from all shades of opinion want Peter Obi as President in 2023. I am happy to join him and other Nigerians to realise this dream. What is happening in LP is divine,” due to some of his consistent campaign statements.

How Nwoye’s humbled Oduah, Obiano

Like Umeh, Tony Nwoye is another person so much blessed in disguise by the ‘Obidient Movement’. This former student leader and former state chairman of PDP had contested for governorship elections both as candidates of PDP and All Progressive Congress (APC), and came out as second runner-up in both. 

In 2015, he represented Anambra East and Anambra West federal Constituency under PDP, after defeating the APGA candidate, Mr Peter Madubueze that was earlier declared by INEC, at tribunal. 

At the end of his tenure at the green chamber in 2019, his political activities became low until he emerged as candidate of LP in 2023 election. With the Obidients, he did not only retire Odua but also foiled what could be regarded as double defeat from Obiano’s family! 

Former governor Willie Obiano defeated him in 2014 when he was PDP gubernatorial candidate and in 2017 when he held the flag of APC. 

Interestingly, this time, Obiano’s wife, Mrs Ebelechukwu was the candidate of APGA in the 2023 Senatorial election for Anambra North and fell to the superior fire power of the LP and Obidient Movement. 

More surprises at the House of Reps

LP also secured six out of eleven Federal House of Representatives seats from the state. And most of the victorious candidates were green-horns who had not held political offices before. 

One of them is Awka North & Awka South federal Constituency, where Professor Lillian Orogbu, a lecturer with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, defeated other political actors that contested under different platforms despite their experienced political trajectories. Orogbu’s first outing in Anambra political terrain was in 2021 where she deputised the factional governorship candidate of APGA, Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji.

Another two lucky new political entrants produced by LP are Mr Uchenna Okonkwo of Idemili North and Idemili South federal constituency, and Chief Aniekwe Peter Udegalanya of Anambra East & Anambra West federal Constituency. 

Uchenna, who has contested for the same office and House of Assembly under different platforms but failed, is the son of Senator Annie Okonkwo, that once represented Anambra Central district. He succeeded in retiring the incumbent, Hon. Obinna Chidoka, who is brother to the former Minister of Aviation and a member of Atiku’s presidential team, Osita. 

Obinna first represented the constituency in 2007 before been removed by court, returned in 2015 and was the PDP candidate on a fourth missionary journey. The APGA candidate for the poll, Ikenna Iyiegbu (Ike Cubanna), the younger brother of the famous Obi Cubanna, was also popular but was humiliated by ‘little’ Uchenna.

Similarly, Aniekwe of LP had contested for the same position under the PDP in 2019 but failed to the incumbent, Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe of the APGA. Aside Obidigwe who had financial muscle for the Anambra East and Anambra West House of Representatives poll, the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Obinna Emenaka was also battled ready, having been in Anambra State House of Assembly as member representing Anambra East Constituency for three consecutive term (since 2011 to date). 

Other elected House of Reps members via LP are Hon. George Ibezimako Ozodinobi, Njikoka, Dunukofia & Anaocha federal constituency; Hon. Emeka Iduu of Onitsha North & Onitsha South Federal Constituency; and Hon. Afam Ogene of Ogbaru federal Constituency. The trio, however, are former House of Representatives members returned to the limelights after many years of sitting behind. Ozodinobi represented Njikoka, Dunukofia Anaocha federal Constituency from 2003 to 2007 under APGA (He was succeeded by Uche Ekwunife).

Iduu represented Onitsha North 2 in Anambra State House of Assembly for two terms as Accord party and PDP tickets holders respectively. He further emerged as Member-elect for Onitsha North & Onitsha South Federal constituency as PDP candidate in 2015 before an Abuja Federal High court declared that the incumbent, Hon. Lynda Chuba-Ikpeazu, was the rightful candidate of the party. He would takeover from the same Ikpeazu.

Ogene, on the other hand, represented Ogbaru under APGA ticket between 2011 to 2015. He failed to secure APGA ticket in 2015 National Assembly primary, and as such, settled for APC for the same poll. At the main election, Hon. Chukwuma Wilfred Onyema of PDP won and succeeded him. Onyema, currently the Deputy Minority leader of House of Reps, had been at the green chamber from 2007 to 2011, 2015 to 2019, and 2019 to 2023, but failed a fourth term journey in the just concluded election. He would on June 12, return power to Ogene, the same man he took over from. 

LP also won seven State House of Assembly seats at the just concluded poll. They won at the State capital territory, Awka South 1, which comprises the main Awka town and Okpuno town, where the seats of power and tertiary institutions are situated, including students and civil servants areas, and businesses. Others are Orumba North, another students and farmers populated area; Anaocha 1, where Obi hails from; and four important areas where the most business and commercial activities in Anambra State are booming namely, Onitsha South 1, Onitsha South 2, Idemili North; and Onitsha North 2.

YPP exploit 

For YPP, Anambra South fell into  the arm of it current Senator, Ifeanyi Ubah of Young Progressive Party for a second time. The party’s candidate, Ms Clara Nnabuife also grabbed Orumba North & Orumba South federal constituency which is within the Senatorial district. This is first of it kind in the history of YPP both in Anambra and Nigeria since it formation around 2017. 

Ubah’s YPP also pulled weight at State House of Assembly poll by winning three legislative seats. It won at Nnewi North constituency, where Ubah came from and home for many industrialists such as Innocent Chukwuma of Innoson Motors, Cletus Ibeto (Ibeto cement), among others. YPP also secured Nnewi South 1 and Nnewi South 2 despite the insecurity that was high in the area prior to the 2023 general elections. 

For sure, YPP owed his victories at the just concluded poll in Anambra State to Ubah’s consistent campaign and projects in the zone. For instance, few weeks to the election, he donated some security gadgets to Anambra State government for securing of Anambra South Senatorial district that was heavily under security threats. He also sponsored training of some journalists from the area, gifted vehicles and others to his teaming supporters and constituents. 

He was reported to have described the project as a deliberate effort by his Senatorial office to partner with the State government to better the lots of Anambra, especially the district. According to him, “Our security will henceforth speak in every neighbourhood with a single voice. We’ll set up communication and security devices to continue to protect our people.” And the efforts spoke for him and the party?

APGA impact

The state ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) managed to grab four seats at the National Assembly. One of them is Aguata Federal Constituency where Governor Soludo hails from. It was won by APGA candidate, Hon. Dominic Ifeanyi Okafor. Hon. Paschal Udemadu, the current Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly also won the Ihiala Federal Constituency. Others were Lady Maureen Chinwe Gwacham, Oyi & Ayamelum federal Constituency; and Hon. Uchenna Clement Eleodimmou of Nnewi North, Nnewi South & Ekwusigo Federal Constituency. 

The performance of APGA at the National Assembly elections made the governor embarked on more communal and infrastructural projects across the 21 local government areas. One of such viral videos showed where he was threatening to work for those who voted for APGA first before considering others. Another one probably held at Igbo-ukwu, Aguata LGA showed where he threatened not to work with any House of Assembly member elected from any political party under than APGA.

He was seen in the video saying “Igbo Ukwu come out. Aguata II State Constituency. This is my own constituency too. My own state constituency. We will carry the votes and in a usual way it is done, we will put it there. When we are casting votes, we don’t look at anybody’s face, because whoever that will work with me must be a member of APGA. whoever that will be with me in Awka here must be from APGA.

“If you vote for another person, any other person who comes up here should know that the only thing to get is only the salary. Once he is paid his salary, he will go home. Whoever is in the house does not do developmental works like hospital, school, because, how much does the person have. Only me, the governor can do them and it is only the person who is my friend, who is on good terms with me, who is in the same party with me will have access.

“When he comes in, he can tell me that here and there should be worked on and that these and these should be remembered. If it is not a member of APGA, when he comes, let him go to his house. That is how it works. It is only my own person that I can work with and when he calls me on the phone, I will answer and if he says there is something to do, I will approve of it, not when you bring in any party that I don’t know what it is or has anything.”

Although his Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime and other aides tried in various ways to counter those videos, APGA still performed woefully in the Anambra State House of Assembly poll. 

The party managed to win 16 seats as against 26 it won in 2019 general elections. It won at Idemili South, Aguata 1, Aguata 2, Anambra West; Anaocha 2, Anambra East and Awka North State Constituencies. Others are Dunukofia, Orumba South, Awka South 2, Njikoka 2, Njikoka 1, Oyi, Ihiala 2, Ihiala 1 and Ekwusigo State Constituencies.

The PDP, which was previously controlling most of the political affairs from the State, at national level, was edged out by voters. It was at the State House of Assembly poll that PDP managed to show capacity as it secured four seats out of the thirty available. This was unlike in 2019 poll where the party won 6 State legislative seats. PDP won Ogbaru 1, Ogbaru 2, Onitsha North 1 and Ayamelum state constituencies.

In all, the outcome of the election at State House of Assembly level indicates that the tussle for Speakership position would be interesting given that APGA as a party with majority has only 16 members most of whom are new, as against 14 opposition political parties.