WITH the conclusion of primary elections in most of the political parties across the country, it is becoming clear to the people who are the candidates of the political parties and what  they will be contesting for in the coming general elections.

In the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dreamers and cynics were proved wrong as the incumbent governor, Chief Thoedore Orji clinched the ticket in the primaries without any opposition. Most members of the National Assembly and state assembly on the party platform also clinched their tickets, except a few whom the people voted out for non-performance.

Surprisingly, the game plan of some few disgruntled elements who claimed membership of a faction of the party in the State and allegedly supported by Chief Benjamin Apugo went somewhere and conducted illegal primaries, claiming that they have elected Chief Ikechi Emenike as the candidate of the party.

But as things are now, it is glaring that they have lost out because what they did with Mr. Ben Etie- led dissolved executive of the party was illegal as their kangaroo primary was not monitored by the party leadership or INEC as required by law. This is the position of the Deputy National Chairman of the party in Southeast, Chief Olisa Metuh according to an  advertorial he signed and published in several papers.

Even as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party ordered for a repeat of primaries in some states, Abia was not among, making it very clear that the party primaries that produced Theodore Orji and others were properly and legally conducted.

Maybe the thinking of Emenike, Apugo and their cohorts was that Atiku Abubakar would defeat President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential primaries, so that they would connive with his camp to cause confusion in the party in the State. Unfortunately for them, President Jonathan did not only defeat Atiku, he demystified him and his supporters.

With Abia State being the first to vote in the presidential primaries, the outcome of the voting confirmed that Governor Orji has a firm grip of the party structure in the State as delegates overwhelmingly voted for Jonathan. The only vote Atiku got from the State may have come from Apugo, but it didn’t make any difference.

As it is now, it seems obvious that the likes of Apugo, Emenike and few others have realised that the game is over for them as far as the party is concerned in the state. Governor Orji has proved to them that it takes political sagacity to understand political arithmetic.

Today, all the known forces in the party in the state are working diligently and collectively for the  success of the party in the  coming elections. A development that has not gone down well with some enemies of the State, but welcomed by majority of the people.

But it is evident that the enemies have lost out and cannot stop the moving train. Many believe that they have no choice but to join the moving train with Gov. Orji as the driver, so that they can be on the right side of history of liberation in the State. Since the end of the presidential primaries, the likes of Apugo has been incommunicado, recovering from the hurricane that  swept them at Eagle Square Abuja on 14 January. He has refrained from making unguarded utterances against the government and party leadership in the State.

Maybe Apugo and allies have realised after the party primaries both in the state and Abuja that they have been building castle in the air. It is better late than never as it is still early for them to join  Orji to work together to deliver the party in the next election.

For Emenike, it is high time he stopped running, for power comes from God. Working with his brother, Orji to move the State forward is the best option for Emenike now. Ditto for Orji’s humility which has worked the magic in total reconciliation in the party in the State and will continue to work, as he will always be handy to embrace Emenike and carry him along with others anyday, not minding their political differences and ambition.

Even in the camp of the so-called oppositions in the State, it has been crisis of confidence, cheating, intrigues and complaints since  concluding their primaries. Among the remnants in PPA in the State, the impeached former deputy governor, Comrade Chris Akomas from Abia South was handed over the party governorship ticket amidst protests and complaints to the extent that some of his cohorts like former speaker of the House of Assembly, Stanley Ohajuruka  protested openly, before defecting to the Labour Party with others.

The development is a signal that there is fire on the mountain in the camp of the enemies of the state. If they cannot organise transparent primaries within the party that will be rancour free, will it be possible for them to organise themselves for the general election? It is often said that it is by morning that one knows how the afternoon will be.  To me, the game is over for them in the State as the combined efforts of the Labour party, PPA and APGA cannot overcome the formidable structure of PDP in the state.

Mr. AJAMES AGBADAM, a clergyman , writes from Bwari, Abuja.