By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha
The Anambra State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has been thrown in turmoil over the last minute withdrawals of aspirants from the Governorship primary which holds today at Women Development Centre, Awka the State capital.
At the last count two of the major contenders, Chief Paul Chukwuma and Chief Chukwuma Umeoji have withdrawn from the race apparently in protest over heavy monetisation of the exercise.
Chukwuma who was among the earliest contenders for the plum job along with Late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah on Friday in a letter to APC ward in his community resigned entirely from the party.
No reason was given but many were of the opinion that it was apparently in protest against what he might have considered to be betrayal by some members of the party in spite of his contributions to the growth of the party in the State.
Chief Umeoji who some people touted would make significant impact in the primary was said to have thrown in the towel Friday night when the intrigues and high wire politicking were said to have become too high and complex for him.
Those left in the race now are an Abuja based business mogul and former House of Representatives member,Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu, considered by many as the likely winner of the primary, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, another businessman, Chief Valentine Ozigbo, former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate in 2021 election.
The major snag against Prof. Okonkwo is that he hails from Anambra Central which the state zoning arrangement does not favour.
The race is said to be now zeroed down to between Chief Ukachukwu and Val Ozigbo who are both from Anambra South Senatorial zone.
Ozigbo ex-banker was granted waiver by the party to contest the primary just few weeks ago.
He is said to be heavily backed by the Catholic Bishops in the State who are bent in holding onto the levers of Power in Anambra State in spite of the fact that the Catholics have been in control of the State politics since 2003 when Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige replaced Late Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju.
The monopoly of power in Anambra State by Catholics for over 20 years has now spurred other denominations to agitate that power should rotate to other denominations to also have a taste of it after a long time.
The race favours Ukachukwu who is seen as the only aspirant who has the war chest and deep pocket to match the incumbent Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo in November governorship election if APC wants to win this election.
Ikukuoma as he is fondly called by his admirers, having been in politics for long now is believed to have more than enough contacts and goodwill across the State that would mobilise votes for him in today’s primary.
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