By Madu Onuorah
Anambra State has always been unique in many ways. And next year 2025, the people of the State will be embarking on a watershed gubernatorial election, an election that is very attractive to many political watchers.
In the past, three political parties were always in the hot chase for the gubernatorial seat in the State – the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). But following the remarkable impact of a son of the soil, Peter Obi, at national and State levels with the Labour Party (LP), a major force has joined the three outstanding parties.
Following the entry of the Labour Party, pundits are almost unanimous that it’s even the party to beat in the State come November 2025. Going by the electoral revolution of 2023, not a few are arguing that a free and fair election in Anambra State will put the Labour Party in the front seat, even with APGA incumbency.
Next year’s election in Anambra State is therefore going to be a turning point because of what it represents. It’s the home State of Peter Obi who needs his party to rule his State for political pride. Even though his party not ruling his State will not have much electoral effect on his national performance, there are still a lot of advantages accruing to him if his party rules in his State.
It’s an obvious fact that in 2019 and in 2023 when Obi ran for national elections in a political party different from the ones in his State, he still came out landslide all at home. In 2019 as PDP Vice Presidential Candidate with Governor Willie Obiano of APGA vehemently against him, the people still gave him over 90% of the votes, ditto in 2023 when Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo openly worked against him. But that notwithstanding, the percentage performance, the figure garnered fell short of expectations when compared to the registered voters in the State. Electoral watchers believe that figures coming out of Anambra State could be more if the State machinery is channeled for his candidacy.
All the top candidates expected to line up for the Presidential race in 2027, incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of APC, Atiku Abubakar of PDP and Rabiu Musa Kwakwaso of the NNPP have their parties ruling their States. If Obi fails to install the Labour Party in Anambra State in 2025, he would be approaching 2027 psychologically deficient from the home front.
It is against this backdrop that all eyes are focused on the Labour Party ahead of the Anambra 2025 gubernatorial race. As a party rated to oust the incumbent Governor Soludo, whoever flies the gubernatorial flag of the Labour Party must be a critical character and outstanding in many respects.
Even though Obi’s strength in Anambra State and indeed nationally is more noticeable in the ordinary citizens, and not with the elites, but he still would need them.
So far, seven names are outstanding. They’re Paul Orajiaka, Tony Nwoye, George Moghalu, John Nwosu, Barth Nwibe, Chuma Nzeribe, and Valentine Ozigbo. Among them, a person like Senator Tony Nwoye, has his ambition fatally injured by the zoning formula to which Peter Obi and the Anambra people seriously adhere.
Aspirants like Orijaka, Nwibe, Nwosu and Nzeribe have not significantly shown their seriousness to Anambra people.
Another strong and experienced candidate hit by other variables is George Moghalu who is just joining the party. He may be seen as not truly Obidient at heart but just trying to take advantage of the strength of the party it did not support in the previous election. Such a person emerging may ignite crisis and disrupt harmony in the party for those who have been struggling with Obi for long in the Obidient family.
The most visible Obidient person among the top aspirants is Valentine Ozigbo who flew the flag of the PDP in the last gubernatorial election in 2021 and is seen as the man to beat. Most Obidients at the grassroots in Anambra State already see him as the Labour Party’s candidate for 2025. His commitment and total submission to the Obidient projects at their inception might be a huge plus for him. He also enjoys the advantage of experience in the contest having come second to Soludo in 2021. In the race so far, he is seen ahead of others. He also enjoys what watchers say is a clean cupboard meaning he has a clean past. What his opponents see as a minus, which is his not being an aggressive character, might even be an advantage if you use the most successful Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, as an example who had a similar political appearance when he came in 2003 when nobody gave him a chance.
The leadership of the Labour Party, especially its arrowhead and an Anambra son of the soil – Peter Obi, should be very wise in arriving at who emerges as their flag bearer. With Soludo playing into their hand with his quarrelsome administrative style, the Labour Party should not risk any mistake, more so avoidable ones.
Since the Anambra people and indeed Igbos and Nigerians desire to have Obi as President in 2027, the first concrete step is to equip him well by letting his party control his State. Choosing the right and popular candidate with less baggage will be the first step towards achieving it. To achieve this, Obi must not be evasive but assertive in arriving at the flag bearer and go a step further to harmonize the leaders to deliver such a person.
