By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

The emergence of Dr. Tony Nwoye as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC came as a shock to many political pundits. It was especially so, given the calibre of the persons he beat to win the ticket of the ruling party to contest the forthcoming election.

Among the more formidable rivals were former governor of the state, Senator Andy Uba who is serving his second term as senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District and Chief George Moghalu, the long time national auditor of the former All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP and subsequently, the APC.

Nwoye: APC candidate, praises his “boss” Andy Uba in victory

Among the vanquished were also some of the financially well-heeled personalities including Engr. Bart Nwibe and Dr. Obinna Uzor.

Also remarkable was the scale of the victory. Dr. Nwoye polled 2,146 votes representing about 46% of the total votes cast in the race that comprised about 11 aspirants. The nearest to him, Senator Uba, polled 931 votes representing about 20% of the total votes cast.

The outcome of the votes has really shocked the political landscape. It was even more shocking given that Dr. Nwoye was until about two years ago, not a member of the party. He was not a member when the delegates for the election who were essentially party executives were elected in 2014.

However, Dr. Nwoye by several accounts is no stranger to the political landscape. He was the immediate past candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the 2012 election.

His performance in that election where he took second position despite the lack of support from the national chapter of the party and the then  president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was amazing.

Associates of Dr. Nwoye at that time noted that when President Jonathan visited to handover the PDP flag to Nwoye that he at that time told party members to vote according to their conscience, deliberately avoided promoting or hyping his party candidate apparently due to the chummy relationship between him and the then governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi who it is claimed, had sold his own candidate standing on the ticket of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA to the then president.

Having overcome internal opposition to place second, many at that time affirmed that Nwoye was bound to go higher.

A former national president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, and a medical doctor, the 42 year old Nwoye by several accounts had in the past been a key component of some of the governorship elections in the state, notably being the chairman of the state chapter of the PDP when Uba won his pyrrhic victory in 2007.

His emergence as the candidate of the APC, however, came against the background of some past political setbacks including a failed inauguration into the House of Representatives in 2011/12 after judicial victories that affirmed his election. It was a surprise to many when without campaigning and with few knowing that he contested and won the 2015 election to represent Anambra East/West Federal Constituency.

At 42, he is about the youngest in the contest ( the PDP governorship primary  was ongoing as at press time), a factor that is bound to advance his case in the light of increasing agitation for a more youthful person to come to position of authority in the state.

The Nwoye campaign it was gathered, is set to brandish his role in campaigning and stemming the tide of cultism during his time as NANS president as a selling point.

“We have the records to show what Tony did as NANS president in curbing cultism in Nigerian universities and especially at the University of Nigeria, UNN for which authorities of the university have continued to show appreciation,” a campaign insider revealed to Vanguard.

What had been said was a disadvantage for Dr. Nwoye was that he may not be that wealthy given the fact that governorship contests in Anambra State is seen as the preserve of multi billionaires. However, for a man who was able to defeat several multibillionaires to grab the APC ticket, the potentials for Nwoye it is said, remain achievable.

“Nwoye was able to win delegates to support him despite the fact that when the delegates were elected in 2014, he was not a member of the party and this shows his capacity to persuade voters,” a campaign associate also revealed.

However, the ultimate conflict is the battle between him and Governor Willie Obiano, the flag bearer of the APGA who also has the power of incumbency on his side.