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By Paul Dimudem
Like the race to Nikki for the acquisition of Borgu, securing the tickets of some of the political parties for the 2027 general election has become too complex and too frantic to be left in the hands of just any candidate. Unlike the Nikki race, which was decided at the Anglo-French Convention of 1898, the aspirants have neither the luxury of a roundtable discussion nor the chance of a split victory after a declared result. Once a winner emerges, an opportunity for further aspiration ceases to exist. It is for this reason that the selection process must not be left in the care of those with the hunger of the destructive feeder politicians and should be transparent enough to convince any loser that indeed they lost.
By May 31, it is expected that all the parties would have concluded their primaries, which will give the candidates ample time to prepare for the general election, which comes up early next year. A helicopter view of the entire process shows that only a few parties will make an impact in the general election. In Anambra State (where the off-circle election carefully excludes the governorship) parties like the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) may end up winning a seat or more in the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and the Senate for obvious reasons. Other parties participating in the elections will make an effort but their impact will not be more than an uptick on the result sheet.
It is going to be a tough election, no doubt. A nick and tuck contest where only the party with popular candidates will have an added advantage. If for whatever reason any of the parties decides to play it by the ear rather than through a careful plan, it will be surprised at what it will get. Anambra does not always conform to – in fact she defies most of the time – the run-of-the-mill political calculations that are common in some other states. Good conduct acts like a catnip to Ndi Anambra, lack of character blinds them, and both extremes make them incapable of being faithful for too long either to a party or an individual.
The only thing that is going to make the difference in this election will be the quality of candidates to be fielded by the parties. It may be fair to argue that the three parties APGA, NDC and APC will exert some peculiar influences on the election. While APGA may attempt the use of the power of incumbency to maximum advantage, NDC will utilize Peter Obi’s growing political influence to snatch victory at the polls. The APC on its part will try to home in on target, using the City Boys Movement whose presence in the state has been largely cosmetic. All these factors will be at play during the election, but only the personality of the candidate leading the campaign will tip the balance in favour of any of the parties.
The election in Anambra will be tough but it will be tougher in Anambra South Senatorial Zone where the Governor of the State Professor Chukwuma Soludo hails from. Though he is not a very popular politician and has since provoked hatred through unwarranted attacks on Obi, he is not going to be steamrolled. Only a formidable candidate of the NDC family can win APGA clearly in Aguata federal constituency. Beyond Obi’s overwhelming political influence, the party needs a candidate that is popular, reputable, redoubtable, well read, and has no overhang of political treachery that will hobble his march towards winning the battle for Aguata. He should be without the distractions of the career politicians which will haunt him during campaign.
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The aspiration of Dr. Okwudili Ezeike fits into the one that can leverage Obi’s burgeoning influence to win Aguata federal for the NDC. He has the capacity to beard the lion in its den. He is well read, has no baggage and is beloved of the masses. He has no airs or graces even when he has reason to. Until his decision to answer the call of his people to represent them in the lower chambers of the National Assembly, Ezeike (who holds the title of Ikeakachi Ekwulobia) is a practicing nurse and an attorney. He holds a PhD in Nursing Science from Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA and a Master of Law in Health Law from Loyola University School of Law, Chicago, Illinois also in the US. He has as many certifications and licenses as are available to the best in his field. But it is his work in community development that sets him apart as a leader with compassion and the welfare of his people at heart.
His leadership of Ekwulobia Community USA and Canada, Inc. (ECUC) was very strategic in education and healthcare development of his Ekwulobia community and beyond. At a reasoned estimate, ECUC under him committed tens of millions of Naira in human capital development, refurbishing schools and hospitals and equipping them.
With his track record, Ezeike is made to order for the job of representing his people at the National Assembly. He is widely read and of cosmopolitan bent. He has served in top government positions in the US and has acquired experiences many and various that can be deployed in handling the very demanding task of representing the dynamic people of Aguata federal constituency.
NDC has a good chance of winning the majority of the electoral seats in the state if it is able to field its best candidates. Ezeike’s aspiration should be considered for the reason that it is without controversy and is very popular among his people.
• Dimudem, political analyst, writes, from Achina, Anambra State
