BY VINCENT UJUMADU & CHARLES KUMOLU

…As Ubah flags off campaign in Onitsha today…
FOR a state that is always on the amazing side of political developments, the fallout of the recent gubernatorial primaries by most political parties, has once again reaffirmed that Anambra may not be in a hurry to quit being the hotbed of intrigues.

The most dramatic aspect of recent happenings, is the emergence of two candidates each from the All Progressives Grand Alliance,APGA, Peoples Democratic Party,PDP and Labour Party,LP.

At the moment, the PDP has Comrade Tony Nwoye as its mainstream candidate, while Senator Andy Uba is laying claims to the same ticket. APGA is also presenting Chief Willy Obiano and Dr. Chike Obidigbo. The same scenario obtains in LP where Ifeanyi Ubah and Peter Nwosu are the party’s flag-bearers.

This situation has remained a source of concern to observers, who have questioned the rationale behind having six candidates rather than three as required by the law. What the trend portends for the state ahead of the November governorship elections is also a source of worry.

While this is not the first time such is happening in Anambra, the alarming dimension it has assumed, ahead of the polls, has sent tongues waging. It will be recalled that there were cases where multiple candidates laid claims to a single party ticket, and eventually making the judiciary the last arbiter in the ensuing dispute.

In a pattern that usually appears questionable, the litigation are always concluded after the results of the polls have been announced leaving in its trail contradictions. Against this backdrop, not a few are beginning to see it as a deliberate ploy by the parties to manipulate the polls

. ‘’PDP,APGA and LP have made an underground conspiracy to rig the forthcoming election as was done by PDP during the rerun senatorial election between Andy Uba and Nicholas Ukachukwu. The so called factions were created by their leaders to present double candidates,’’ State Chairman of KOWA party, Prince Isaac Onuka said.

Whether the claims are true remain to be established, but many are beginning to reason in that direction. But the state Chairman of LP, Mr. Sam Oraegbulem would not accept the claims, as he insisted that LP has been in the forefront of the campaign against multiple candidates.

Soludo, Ogene, Odenigbo, Uzoh, Mrs. Ekwunife , Okonkwo, Ndubuisi and Ifeanyi Uba

His words: ’It is ridiculous for a party like that to say that Labour Party is fielding two candidates. From our primary which was broadcast live, Dr Ifeanyi Ubah was elected the party’s candidate. His emergence has equally not been challenged by anyone or INEC. Obviously, there is no faction in Labour Party, there has not been and there won’t be.’

‘’Labour Party does not have double candidature and we are against it. The party has been in the forefront against such. It was surprising that KOWA party included our party as among those fielding multiple candidates. Multiple candidature places some parties at advantage over the others. By the time you have two candidates running for an election, you end up creating impression that the two are running the election.’’

Multiple candidates
In addition, he said, ‘’We join hand with others to kick against multiple candidates. It has become a trend because of the crisis rocking political parties because of the absence of internal democracy. This is one reason why democracy should be allowed to be enshrined in the political parties.”

Similarly APC State Chairman, Chief Chukwuemeka Orjiako distanced his party from the matter, even as he accused the PDP of being the culprit.

“I know that such has not been had of ACN, ANPP or CPC and it will not happen now that we have fused together. During our meeting with INEC Chairman, Professor. Attahiru Jega, he did assure us that the commission will not tolerate such this time around,’’ he reportedly said.

While APGA had during the primaries said the party was not interested in having more than one candidate, Obidigbo’s emergence appears to have punctured that position.

In what appeared as an apparent reference to the PDP, Chairman of APGA gubernatorial primaries, Chief Martins Agbaso said, “we want to be the only party to present. one candidate. Other parties have one or three candidates but we will have one to show that integrity for which APGA is known for.”

Ubah flags off campaign in Onitsha today
THE governorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah will today at the Holy Trinity Cathedral field, in the commercial city of Onitsha, kick off his governorship campaign.

Described by many followers of the oil magnet as the mother of rallies, the magnificent field has been decorated and podium mounted at the centre.

LP supporters in all the 21 local councils have been fully mobilized to attend.

Various groups, including traders, youth organizations and women groups, among others are also expected to participate. National Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu is expected to lead a delegation to the event.

Guber election made us postpone LG polls – ANSIEC
THE much publicized October 5, 2013 date for the conduct of local government election in Anambra State will no longer stand. The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, has shifted the council polls to ensure there is no interference in November 16 governorship election.

Acting chairman of ANSIEC, Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, who announced the postponement of the exercise while addressing leaders of the various political parties in Awka explained that the decision to shift the election was to avoid acrimony in the state.

He said: “For sometime now, the commission has been inundated with telephone calls and petitions by some stakeholders of some political parties urging us to cancel the election because of the governorship election of November 16.

“Many political parties had refused to submit the list of their candidates to us and start their campaigns as required by law. After considering all the variables during our meeting, we came to the conclusion that we may not be able to satisfy everybody if we go ahead with the election. We have been given money for it, but you know that money is not everything. We do not want an election that will be violent. We also do not want anything to spill over to the November 16 governorship election.

“We are therefore pleading with the political parties to allow us to shift this election. Apart from the date, every other process that will lead to the success of the election will still go on.”