18 March Polls: The Bitter Truth, Facts, Factors That’ll Determine Ebonyi's Next Governor

From Nwogha Ndubuisi Andy, Abakaliki

The race to the Ochudo Centenary City, Ebonyi New Government House Abakaliki, will automatically come to its end, Saturday, when the people of Ebonyi State will visit the polling booths once again to cast their votes to their respective choice of gubernatorial and House of Assembly Candidates. The campaigns have been tough and thick. Stones and pebbles have been thrown. Lies have been fabricated and well decorated to attract sympathy. Facts have been distorted by social media bandits. All in a bid to discredit one another for selfish gain. Alas, the gubernatorial Candidates have had it bittered, some narrowly escaped death through motor accident and hoodlums attacks. Apart from some bitterness and hate speeches here and there by the data boys on social media, it’s been very interesting as the candidates tried to woo voters by all available lawful means. It is the first time Ebonyi state is feeling this heat since 1999. This has been attributed to the effect of the governor's defection to the now ruling party and the recent LP emergence and it’s Presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi and the OBIdient mantra. The unexpected results of February 25th Presidential and National Assembly elections in the State just like other States in the South East have threatened the dominance of the APC, PDP, NNPP and APGA in Ebonyi State. TOP CONTENDERS IN SATURDAY'S ELECTION:

Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru (APC) The All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate, Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru (FON) is a serious contender and consensus candidate who emerged through the support of the outgoing governor of the state,Engr. David Nweze Umahi,on the ground of equity and fair rotation of power in the state. Nwifuru having served as the Speaker of the state House of Assembly for eight years making him the jinx breaker after his four years as member of the house has proven experienced, capable, committed and ready to rule the state. His emergence was still imaginable to the party critical stakeholders especially those in the Ebonyi North zone where it's assumed he was too young in the political business. It was tough from the party primary where he magically defeated the Abuja group and all forms of gibberish were raised including the rumour of illegal defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC and the resignation of his running mate. And to crown it all, it was rumoured that the accident which he escaped unhurt affected him internally and was rushed to India and was rumoured he died. All sponsored by the opposition parties to demoralize his supporters. Though, he was never disturbed by the rival distractions as he was believed to be mean and never smile politician who takes the like of Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, who does what he says and mean what he does.

His party may be popular in the state being a party of the sitting governor but Nwifuru (FON) as he is fondly called is hated by the people as he was accused of being too loyal to the outgoing governor and that has been a campaigning point of the opposition parties who instigated Ebonyians against him on social media that he would introduce harsh and anti-people policies even when that's his selling point that gave him the trust to be supported by Chief Umahi. Pundits are keeping an eye on the APC flagbearer believing he could pull a stunt somewhere, somehow considering his antecedents making the House of Assembly the most peaceful in the country and supporting the government to achieve a milestone and enviable height in both infrastructural and human capacity development. His closeness to elders, traditional rulers, founding fathers and majorly the youths is also keeping other parties on their toes. However, the recent earthquake in the opposition parties in the state which involved the collapse of Action Alliance(AA) state structure, faction of Dr Edward Nkwegu's Labour Party, (LP), factional Peoples Democratic Party,led by Hon Toochukwu Okorie among others have given him another advantage over other contestants in the Saturday's race. Among and the last straw that broke the camel's back, the public endorsement carried out by the former Senate president and Secretary of the Federal Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and Umuekumenyi consensus endorsement led by the Ebonyi founding fathers,Chief Ben Okah, Senator Nguji Ngele, among many political Stalwarts made him a Candidate of the people in the ballot box.

Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii (PDP) The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii (Anyichuks) is seriously in contention. If not for equity, justice and fair rotation of power impact, it would have been a walk over for him. But no, the charter of equity cannot be ignored. It is visible, it’s real, it’s threatening. And the PDP is aware of the reality on ground. After the abysmal performance in the National Assembly elections where it picked up only one out of the 8 Reps positions, and none of the three concluded Senate positions, the party is throwing everything it has into Saturday guber polls. Failure will be disastrous as a whole lot of political actors will be retired including the first executive governor of the state, Dr Sam Egwu. It’s the last fight, as the movies would put it. The party has redoubled it’s campaign efforts since Senator Anyim dumped them and has massively mobilized Ebonyi voters ahead the guber polls including sharing of loafs of bread to party agents. The PDP candidate Dr Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii (A.K.A Anyichuks)on his part has proven to be a good commodity. He has shown desire to govern. His antecedents as a philanthropist is enviable. Though, has not held any political position from where you can judge his performance except the recent appointment in Lagos state university board. He has promised to turn Ebonyi around in terms of economic and human capacity development.

The Isu born Philanthropist has been asking that power be retained in the south against the charter of equity which the people vehemently rejected it and would further prove that at the poll on Saturday where the Umuekumenyi bloc, Senator Anyim among other political Stalwarts hinted that the idea would truncate the peace and unity in the state. Splendor Eze, (LP) The former Action Democratic Congress, ADC, and governorship candidate in 2019 election cross over to Labour Party, after losing out in his former party election. Splendor was the Labour Party, Ebonyi state chairman and later emerged as the party primaries as the party Guber candidate. The party was later became beautiful bride and attracted the like of Dr Edward Okereke Nkwegu, EDON, who emerged through substitution primaries. EDON emergence and OBIdient Movement of Peter Obi impact turned the party as major opposition in Ebonyi state and that didn't go well as crisis erupted in the party that saw Dr Edward Nkwegu losing at the supreme court. EDON lost in the Highest Court returned Hon Splendor Eze as the authentic governorship candidate of the party without a running mate. A system that didn't go well with the new electoral law which stipulated that a gubernatorial Candidate must have a running mate. As a result, Splendor had planned to shortchange his ambition for the former State Minister For Health, Chief Fide Nwankwo but was aborted do to time factor as such, the party will not participate in Saturday 18th February Governorship election. Going by last Saturday election, the party State Chairman, Mr Godwin Jioke has adopted the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as their choice Candidate for the election as commonly directed by the party presidential candidate, Sir Peter Obi that the party would aligned with credible Candidates in various states where the party doesn't have a Governorship Candidate.

Prof Ifeanyi Odo (APGA) A fine gentleman and tested administrator. The former Ebonyi Secretary to the State Government,SSG has campaigned vigorously ahead the coming polls. He hails from Ezza North Local Government Area. Odo is a bright academia and strong contender in the Saturday's polls. He had boasted to win in the poll despite many factors that worked against him, including the charter of equity that required Ebonyi North to go before his zone. Odo who's eminently qualified for the job has the experience and cannot be wished away as Ebonyi people go to the polls.

Prophet Chris Adol-Awam (NNPP) Prophet Chris Adol-Awam is another contender in the Saturday's polls. Adol-Awam as he's popular known hails from Ebonyi LGA in the state, a part that's believed to produce Umahi's successor. The former Ebonyi Local Government Areas Executive Chairman during the time of Dr Sam Egwu's Administration is known for his administrative strength. He was popular as ALGON Chairman who stood against many odd during his time of office, and that define him among his contemporaries. Adol-Awam who's contesting on the ground of equity and fair rotation of power was rumoured to had dissolved his structure to support the APC governorship candidate, but refuted the report insisting that he's still in the race. The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP Governorship Candidate who's eminently qualified for the race will be facing many challenge due to poor campaign in different parts of the state as results from the last presidential and National Assembly elections did not favour any Candidate of the party.

FACTS, FACTORS that will throw up the next Governor Analysts believe that the guber poll in Ebonyi state is a direct battle between the APC and PDP. Yet, one would only ignore the APGA and NNPP candidates at his peril. APC has the structure to win Saturday’s election. They have the advantage of a sitting Governor. It is immense, and they are counting it should give them an edge going into the election. They also have a good candidate with leadership experience coupled with the demand for equity and fair rotation of power. On the other hand, Anyichuks, another good candidate though, doesn't have experience has PDP with few political Stalwarts on his side but believing his money will buy him the seat. He is also counting on the support of the entire Southern Zone who voted the National Assembly Candidate massively in the last election and votes from Ezza where his Deputy hails from, unfortunately, the APGA Governorship candidate who's also from there will make it difficult as votes from there will be shared between APC 35%, APGA 55% and PDP 10%. Therefore, the ability of the PDP to turn the mind’s and voting fingers of both Ebonyi North where three out of the four LGA is of Izzi and entire Abakaliki bloc will be best described as magic. If the band wagon voting for APC continues as seen in last National Assembly's election then there could be trouble for the oppositions. Moreso, having the political giant in the person of Senator Anyim Pius Anyim endorsing the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as sole candidates at Ishiagu, the vexed issue of Silas Onu and Toochukwu Okorie who has also allegedly abandoned Anyichuks PDP faction to support APC may also further split the votes of the Ebonyi South people. The Urban Local Governments of Ebonyi, Abakaliki and Izzi are also areas the APC ought to watch as the Philanthropist governorship candidate has invested alot in gifting people as a way to persuade them into voting the party couple with the sponsored media image battering that once Nwifuru is elected would seize property of non indigenes in Abakaliki town. The voting pattern in entire Abakaliki bloc and Afikpo where Nwifuru running mate comes from will also play a vital role in who becomes the next governor.

Conclusion: Going by the voting pattern on February 25, analysts are of the view that the onus is on the APC to turn the tide in their favour. Analysts also believe it’s a mission possible, yet difficult. But, to achieve this, the APC has to look inwards with rumours of sabotage from within the party. Major stakeholders who ought to deliver the party are believed to have long sold out to the opposition except until few days now when the likes of PDP Chieftain, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Umuekumenyi took decisive decision to deliver the APC governorship candidate. The APC must also break the Ebonyi Central votes mostly at Ikwo and Ishielu to stand a good chance of turning the table against PDP and the Anyi Ge Emeya' cum OdoMetre movement in the state. It will be a tight contest that could go either way. Barring all other nforseen circumstances and factors even when the pendulum is swinging in favour of the All Progressives Congress, APC.