On October 7, 2013, political campaign activities formally started in Anambra State of the South East Nigeria, preparatory to the election next month, for the person who will take over from Governor Peter Obi.

Three major political parties’ candidates will lock horns in the election: Chief Obiano of APGA, Chief Ngige of APC, and Chief Ifeanyi Uba of Labour Party. Much is yet to be heard of the PDP, which appears bogged down by its own political self-destroying machinations and mischief.

Anambrarians, in particular, and Ndigbo in general will perhaps showcase a better election this time than the show of shame of the past.It is hoped that this will be an election that will see the least of violence, thuggery, ballot box snatching since 1999, because of the decency of the men involved this time, made easier by the clarity of the choice to be made among the candidates.

The lines seem pretty clear between the candidates. Voters who are impressed with display of wealth, opulence and all the razzmatazz, will root for the Labour candidate; those who are drawn more by the nostalgia of past performance in delivery of electoral promises will go for the APC candidate, while those who want balanced development of their state with a view to the future of Ndigbo in Nigeria, will queue behind the APGA candidate.

It would have been sweeter, more exciting, and interesting if we had the erudite and eloquent Prof Charles Soludo in this election. It is unfortunate that he is not in this race.

For many, this is the election that will speak for the known opposition national party, the APC. The absence of the PDP in their full force, as yet, makes victory more taunting to the APC, providing it with a golden opportunity to make credible inroad into the Igbo enclave.

Many have argued, and I agree with them, that the personal unreserved apology to Ndigbo, made recently by Governor Babatunde Fashola of LagosState, for the deportation incident was to increase the political fortunes of the APC in this election.

It was to give Chief Ngige the latitude he deserved by removing that powerful arsenal from the armoury of the APGA and others. I had personally hoped that the APC will make the miscalculation of riding with the poorly articulated, myopic, and politically damaging reasoning of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode in justifying the deportations. Governor Fashola’s apology to Ndigbo in person is a display of grace and political maturity, better reasoning, as it pulled the rug from under the feet of their political traducers in Igbo land.

The apology took the ball back to the court of Ndigbo, to do what they must in order to develop their areas and give their peoples the correct sense of belonging in the geographical expression we call Nigeria. It has given Chief Ngige, who many admire in Anambra politics   and among Ndigbo, the level playing field he deserves to win this election. Chief Ngige seemingly has no reason not to sweep the polls except for the nagging uncertainty over who the APC presidential flag bearer will be.

The APC will do better for Chief Ngige if they will come out with their presidential flag bearer now. Failure to do this will fuel speculations that they will end up with a candidate at the national level who will be very difficult to market to Ndigbo, and this alone will surely work against Chief Ngige in the next few weeks, whether Chief Rochas Okorocha relocates to Anambra or not, as he has reportedly promised to do, in support of Chief Ngige.

Those who wonder and ponder deeply on what becomes of Ndigbo in Nigeria politics, look beyond 2015, and therefore attach little weight to the impact of the personal wealth and power of the dramatis personae in this election.

These people are convinced that Ndigbo should have their own power base in one political party. The atomicity of the PDP culture in recent times, betray the instability in random agglomeration of individuals with just the simple drive to dominate others through economic power rather than effect the deliverance of good governance to the people.

It becomes obvious that currently, ethnic sentiments, and power base associations confer better opportunities for power negotiation at the center.

It is the lack of realisation and acceptance of this fact by many Ndigbo that is responsible for their being and remaining the scape goats of the Nigerian political dynamics. While many Ndigbo have acquired immense individual economic and political power, the South East largely remains a deprived, denied area in too many a sense in our dear country Nigeria. The need to address this imbalance makes it imperative for Ndigbo to think and look beyond 2015 in all their political calculations.

While it may be desirable and attractive to some to aim at becoming a Vice President under the APC, or any other arrangement, it is more permanent, feasible and wiser for Ndigbo to plan for Presidency after 2015, by forming and consolidating a political base within one party at this time.

The dwindling fortunes of the Labour Party, in other political zones, make it less attractive to the Igbo man who has also lost so much under the now dead and buried PPA. This election therefore becomes a crucial one for Ndigbo because it will confront the big issues of the direction of Ndigbo politically in the reality of present day Nigeria.

This is why the promise of APGA as the rallying party for Ndigbo becomes a task that should be accomplished by all who think and live Ndigbo, having awakened to the realities of Nigeria political currents. Ndigbo can all relate to Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu, in APGA, draw inspirations from our heros past through AGPA, plan and negotiate a better South Eastern Nigeria under APGA. Ndigbo can resolve to sink their differences and forgive each other as good brothers, under AGPA, and this election offers Ndigbo and Anambrarians   these awesome opportunities.

Mr CLEMENT UDEGBE , a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.