2023: The Message From Anambra

By Annabel Ogheneganre

Prior to the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra State, all the tides were in favour of the All Progressives Congress judging from the wave of defections that swept through the state ahead of the polls. Governor Willie Obiano and the candidate of his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Prof Charles Soludo received the worst of betrayals weeks and days before the polls when most of his trusted allies, particularly the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Jude Okeke, and Senator Stella Oduah of PDP from Anambra north led their followers to abandon their respective political parties for the APC.
Besides the Deputy Governor and Senator Stella Oduah, many members of the House of Representatives from APGA and PDP, House of Assembly members from PDP and APGA, many APGA party chairmen and chieftains of the party also jumped ship to align with the APC portraying a picture of a collapsed APGA ahead of the polls. There were insinuations in some quarters that Obiano may throw in the trowel and join the APC before November 6. But Governor Willie Obiano continued to fight until the victory of his protégé was sealed through the support of ordinary Ndi Anambra.

What the victory of Charles Soludo implies is that power is gradually returning to the people. No big man in Anambra can take credit for the outcome of the election. Little wonder why the Governors are vehemently opposed to the Direct Primaries inserted in the Electoral Act by the National Assembly. Ordinary Anambra men and women defied directives from leaders and voted their conscience. There was a certain woman who was said to have rebuffed the votes buying overtures from APC and was rewarded with N1m by Obiano in place of the N5,000 that she rejected. The likes of Stella Oduah, whom the PDP promoted to giddy heights on the political turf were roundly humiliated as her new found party, the APC, which she boasted was going to capture Anambra North did not win one local government area in the contest. The electronic transmission of results which Nigerians opted for invested transparency and integrity in the process. Votes counted and the peoples’ power carried the day.

The message from the Anambra governorship election is that with electronic transmission of results, and perhaps, Direct Primaries in selection of party candidates, power is gradually returning to the people. The era of deploying federal might to write results for unpopular candidates is gradually fading into an ignoble past. Unpopular candidates, money bags and pernicious characters whom the people do not trust may no longer have their way. This is not just about the party strength. It is about what the people want. Any little mistake and display of impunity can torpedo an entire process and alter the course of an election. Andy Uba of the APC was made whom he is by PDP, he jumped ship and align with the party at the centre hoping to cash in on federal might to grab Anambra but was met with a huge resistance from the people. Election in Nigeria is wearing a fresh garment of dignity and popular spirit. The humiliation APC suffered in Anambra is enough lessons for all.

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Another lesson from the Anambra election is that a divided house cannot produce any positive result. APC in Anambra state was deeply divided amongst itself. The internal conundrum manifested insupporters and followers of the Minister for Labour and Productivity, Dr Chirs Ngige demonstrating overt anti-party tendencies and they did everything to scuttle the efforts of Senator Andy Uba. Ngige was bitter with the outcome of the primaries that produced Uba and could not forgive the processes that threw him up. On the victory of Charles Soludo, Ngige quickly penned a well worded congratulatory message to the winner, denouncing his party candidate as less worthy of the position.

The lesson from the Anambra experience is that except APC put their house in order here in Delta State, they may not go far in 2023. Presently the Great Ogboru tendency, Festus Keyamo, the only serving minister from Delta State, Chief Victor Ochei, Dr Cairoh Ojuogbo and other APC stalwarts in the state have been complaining of some infractions which if not properly managed could impede on APC’s speed and performance in 2023. The ball is in the court of the Deputy Senate President, His Excellency, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and he must alight from the white horse to connect with the various tendencies in the party, liberalize his hold on the party and allow all the principal stakeholders have at least, some form of stake in the running of the affairs of the party. One man cannot hold on to everything and expect the rest of the leaders to play along and support with all their hearts and might when there are no signs of derivatives at the end of the day.

What happened in Anambra is so much to ponder about. From reports in the media, the other political parties almost collapsed into the APC judging by the way the defections went yet ordinary Anambrans did not buy into the ‘prostitution’ of the political class. Therefore, winning the Anambra poll was beyond the control of the leaders. The Stella Oduahs and the rest of PDP and APGA leaders who jumped ship ahead of the polls saw the raw effect of the peoples’ power during the last polls. Winning Delta state by the APC cannot be a tea party. APC must put their house in order and work in synergy otherwise their dream of capturing Delta State will be a mirage. What played out in Anambra is a sure lesson to all. APGA connected with the people. Anambra people saw APGA as their traditional party, it was a re-enactment of Biafra spirit and federal might could not take the day.
2023 is a year of the people. The National Assembly has already passed the Electoral Act making Direct primaries a component of the electoral process with a promise of returning the party to the people. The argument by the PDP and those crying over the cost of conducting Direct Primaries do not wish democracy well. If democracy is about popular participation in the electoral process, then let all party members participate in choosing the party candidates. Direct or Indirect primaries, figures can be manipulated by the unpopular politicians as it played out in the case of Andy Uba in Anambra. But with time, the process would be cleared of the debris of the old and nauseating past. APC practically fooled themselves with the allocation of over 230,000 votes to Andy Uba in the primaries whereas, the party could not poll 50,000 votes in the general election.

The result from Anambra is a strong warning for unpopular candidates who depend on manipulation to be declared winners in elections. Our democracy is wearing a new look. What played in the supposed victory of Gov Oyetola of Osun state which was obviously won by Senator Adeleke a couple of years ago can no longer hold sway. Awareness is on the increase. Popular democracy has come to stay. Ballot box snatching is no longer fashionable. Violence and intimidation is fast receding into the inglorious past. Votes are counting and the era of ‘Sokoto’ votes is gone. 2023 will indeed be a year of the people. Let the revolution begin for the undesirable elements in our political environment to bow to the mightier force of the peoples’ power. Congratulations to Ndi Anambra for the resounding victory of the popular candidate on November 6.

Annabel Ogheneganre writes from Garki, Abuja. (09030558731 SMS only or [email protected])