Though campaigns for 2015 is yet to be granted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but underground political activities and aggressive maneouvers have begun for interested persons seeking several elective offices.
It is in this regard that my searchlights will in this edition take a look at some aspirants in the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC), with a view to assessing the chances of the forerunners emerging the party’s candidate in the fast approaching Owerri Zone Senate election.
If the new Electoral Act and guidelines are anything to go by, the candidates likely to carry the banners of their parties will emerge before the end of the year. For Owerri Zone Senate and the battle for who carries the flag in APC is among two serving commissioners, Nick Opara Ndudu and Ugochi Nnana. Two others in Okorocha’s cabinet angling for the ticket are Uche Onyeagocha and Ben Osuji. Their desire to replace Senator Christy Anyanwu who is enjoying her second missionary journey is no longer in doubt as they have publicly made it known during the APC stakeholders/facilitators meeting with members of the expanded executive council at the Government House, Owerri.
Nick Opara-Ndudu is the commissioner for Internal Generated Revenue and Pensions Matters. A financial expert and authority on economic matters, the Emekuku Owerri North-born politician leads the group seeking the Senate seat. The coming of Okorocha government has brought Opara-Ndudu to limelight. Although he stands to be counted among his contemporaries in Owerri North politics but his profile and political career has blossomed with the Rescue Mission where he is a major player. Opara-Ndudu can be said to be a lucky fellow in Okorocha government and one of the proverbial “cat with nine lives” in the present exco. He has managed to survive series of cabinet shake-up since he was sworn-in as Commissioner during the early stages of this government. Opara-Ndudu was first Commissioner for Economic Planning before moving to Works and Transport Ministry and later IGR and Pension. He has been in the saddle for sometime and that could be the magic likely to tilt victory to his side.
There is no gain saying the fact that having won the heart of the governor over the manner he handled assignments in previous ministries he supervised, Opara Ndudu is destined to get the support of the governor and his allies to pick the APC ticket for Owerri Zone come 2015. He is a strategic player in Okorocha cabinet and part of the kitchen cabinet member. To pay back for worthy services, the governor may likely back his aspiration.
Another factor that could sway support to Opara Ndudu is the zoning factor. Since Christy Anyanwu, the incumbent Senator is from Mbaise Clan and is spending eight years, equity and fair play being canvassed by people of Owerri Zone to produce next Imo Governor entails that other blocks like Owerri Federal Constituency namely Owerri North, Owerri Municipal and Owerri West as well as Mbaike, Mbaitoli and Ikeduru LGAs be made to produce the next Senator. Again, if Mbaike produced late Chief Evan Enwerem and deceased Amah Iwuagwu as Senators who represented Owerri Zone, whereas only Senator Eze Ajoku from Owerri Federal Constituency came to complete it, it is imperative that Owerri Federal Constituency be given the chance to be counted.
To brighten his chances, Opara Ndudu has raised what could be described as quasi-campaign outfit in the name of a socio-cultural organization for people of the zone. The group where he appears to be the leader is said to be his pet project for the purposes of engineering his 2015 Senate bid. To signal the desire using the social-cultural group, Opara Ndudu in a subtle manner placed billboards at strategic spots within Owerri Zone to wish the people of the Senatorial Zone well during the yuletide season.
Opara Ndudu will however encounter obstacles that may be a clog in the wheel of progress for his dream. Residents of the state and indeed the people of Owerri Zone are yet to forget in a hurry the infamous “Imo bank closure” saga where commercial banks in the state late last year shut down services over the controversial withholding tax levied on them by the state government through the IGR Ministry. It was learnt that because of the huge task and burden of raising billions for the state through internal revenue, Opara Ndudu’s Ministry imposed outrageous tax to the banks. That unwarranted incident was a minus to his acclaimed managerial dexterity.
Opara Ndudu is relatively unpopular in the zone, apart from his Owerri North domain, he is not a household name in Owerri zone to draw admirers and win support among the array of contestants.
In 2003, a maverick politician stormed the political scene to prove the bookmakers wrong about PDP efficacy in winning elections. The person is Hon Uche Onyeagocha. Onyeagocha, a typical grassroots politician was the only House of Representatives member of APGA extraction among the ten lawmakers from Imo. Others were of the dominant PDP. After tasting life in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Onyeagocha in 2007 sought to become governor with defunct Action Congress, AC ticket. In 2011, Onyeagocha was at INEC office again to fill forms to contest the Senatorial position which he eventually lost with ACN flag.
As 2015 election is a year ahead, Onyeagocha is making a comeback bid to seek the mandate of the masses. One thing going for the Obinze, Owerri West born lawyer is that he is a seasoned and people-orientaed politician who has consistently sought the support and votes from the electorate since 2003, when he won the Federal House.
Onyeagocha also stands to benefit from the supposed favor to be granted to Owerri Federal Constituency to produce the next Senator for the Zone since he hails from Owerri West.
An outspoken politician with bias for human rights activities, Onyeagocha can be said to be a charismatic leader if his antecedents and records between 2003-2007 when he represented Owerri Federal Constituency are considered. Onyeagocha handled the MASSOB crusade as a federal legislature and won accolades for speaking the voice of the people of Owerri West, Owerri North and Owerri Municipal.
As one of the prominent leaders of ACN faction in the Rescue Mission cruising train, Onyeagocha may be favoured to carry the APC flag as compensation for steadfastness and belief in Okorocha government.
There is no gainsaying the fact that Onyeagocha may also suffer another doomsday in 2015. Getting the APC ticket will no doubt be a Herculean task. One fact working against him is inconsistency in choice of party which however exposes him as an opportunist always seeking cheap avenues for elective position.
From APGA in 2003, he unceremoniously dumped the party that brought him into reckoning for less-fancied AC where he ran for governor in 2007. Now he is in APC. It is pertinent to note that Onyeagocha is always out to create political platform to actualize personal ambition that cannot be said to be in tandem with the desires of his followers. Most of his die-hard supporters who were captivated by his eloquent speeches and oratorical powers are beginning to think twice about his political tactics. The same support he garnered in the past is lacking and could be his greatest albatross towards getting future elective positions in the state.
It will also be difficult for Onyeagocha in the present APC where his splinter ACN family cannot match the main Agenda/APGA camp of the state governor. The ACN group led by Onyeagocha that is enjoying rosy relationship with the governor in APC may be subsumed when the chips are down. Onyeagocha group is at the periphery of governance as against Okorocha’s loyalists who are at the core. Since he is not an integral part of the Rescue Mission team considering his recent joinder status, Onyeagocha needs to work extra hours to merit the APC Owerri Zone 2015 ticket.
2015 election definitely will be a dicey one for the self-acclaimed Lady of the masses and political amazon in Imo State, Lady (Barr) Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro (LSM). In 2011, Mrs Nnanna-Okoro’s Senate bid ended on a disappointing note when she failed to get the PDP ticket to run for the Senate. Instead, it was Dr (Mrs) Kema Chikwe who finally picked the flag of the party. Nnanna-Okoro felt dejected and consequently lost interest in PDP. What however infuriated the Lady of the Masses was the manner she was shoved aside by the powers that be in the party during that era. This commentary will not go further to expatiate on what transpired in 2011. The fact remains that Nnanna-Okoro felt she was the most qualified and strategically placed to get PDP ticket and win the election against favorite contender, Senator Anyanwu. In one of the interactive sessions I had opportunity to listen to her, Nnanna-Okoro said that 2011 was her year to be in Senate but truncated by some ill forces. And such ill forces forced her to change political camp to brighten her fortunes. Now, that she is in APC and creating waves about prowess, 2015 could be divine year and destined time to represent Owerri Zone in the Senate.
By enjoying a perfect ordeal in APC, and smooth relationship with the governor, nobody expects the former PDP State Exco member and erstwhile Ohakim’s New Face Organization director to offer reasons for missing the senate seat again. Apart from being in cloud nine in Okorocha’s government, Nnanna-Okoro is a major force to reckon with in the APC. To show she is in power, Nnann-Okoro returned to Exco when rumours were rife that Okorocha would use and dump her. To glorify her, she is in charge of two ministries. A close ally of the first family of Imo State, what is going for her is her Orlu Zone maiden identity that has endeared here to Okorocha’s family. The lady of the masses has charismatic approach to political issues and would use the structures created in the past to excel.
Definitely, it will not be easy for Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro. There is belief in several quarters that her Owerri West background would rock the boat for her. Her decision to dump the PDP structures, untimely exit in APGA and ill temperament as well as the controversy in her former CGC ministry will work against her.
