By John 'Nekan

With the success of the Edo election, and the impending Ondo election moving on according to plan, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been re-energised to approach some of its off-season elections with greater confidence.

Next will be the gubernatorial election slated for 2021. Some of the aspirants in the PDP are revving up their campaign structures to varying impact. While some are still "testing waters", a few others are moving around covertly or overtly, currying loyalists and allies along the way.

A few names are on the field: Sen. Uche Ekwunife, strong woman of Anambra Central politics, Rt. Hon. Chris Emeka Azubogu, a three-time member of House of Reps, Valentine Ozigbo, boardroom guru and former chief executive of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria PLC. Candidate of the PDP in the last election, Oseloka Henry Obazee is also in the race.

No doubt, the PDP parades a sterling array of accomplished figures that can take over the reins of governance from incumbent Willie Obiano and move the state to a higher pedestal. But this is where the party must be careful.

Despite being a traditional stronghold for Nigeria's main opposition party, the PDP has been shut out of Akwa government house for at least eight year. If we discountenance Peter Obi's cross over to the PDP during the Jonathan era, then the party has even failed to win the gubernatorial seat in Anambra for much longer.

PDP "misfortune" with the top seat is mainly self-inflicted. Sustained internal wranglings, mutual suspicion, disruptive claims over party structures and similar bickerings have distracted the party from its main goal.

Now that the party structure is mainly stable with its attendant successes in the 2019 general election, one would hope that top stakeholders would take adequate care to nominate a brilliant, agile and sellable candidate to fly the party's flag.

As stated earlier, many of the individuals aspiring for PDP's ticket are worthy of the tag and possess requisite CVs and experience to govern the state. But that is not where it stops.

The PDP needs a candidate that can WIN. Proven electoral value should rank high amongst other considerations. Aspirants like Sen. Uche Ekwunife and Hon. Chris Azubogu comes with loads of that. Chris has been a serial winner and is loved by his people. Mrs. Ekwunife is also popular but the snag is that the current zoning arrangement does not favour her. Anambra South is expected to produce the next governor. Hon. Azubogu is from Nnewi, the "Japan of Africa".

For anyone wishing to govern a high complex and competitive state like Anambra, previous experience in governance becomes a premium. This is where Oseloka Obazee thrives. As a former Secretary to the State Government, he is exposed to the inner workings of government and may be able to hit the ground running his undoing however might be low acceptability. Last time out, he was allegedly enforced on the party by former governor Peter Obi. The rumpus that ensued contributed to his failure to win in 2017.

There's no denying that election is capital intensive and anyone aspiring must have a large enough warchest to neutralise Willie Obiano's APGA which has the benefit of the state purse to its advantage. This is where mindful consideration will be given to business magnate like Mr. Ozigbo. Sure he can rally the required resources from his contacts in the corporate world. That notwithstanding, his untested political strength is a source of worry for a politically charged Anambra, full of landmines for the uninitiated.

Whatever the decision of PDP apparatchiks both at the National and State level might be, it must not fall into the temptation of handing its ticket to persons just for face value. It must consider an aspirant with an aggregation of highlighted factors in good measure.

If you ask me now, I'd say: "go with Chris". Why? He's agile, experienced, connected, humble, unassuming and comes from a place that can be rallied for an assured victory for PDP.


_John writes from Abuja and can be reached on fiyiin5@yahoo.com_

Very weak and amateur write up from one of Azubogu's media aides. I even wish they will give him their ticket so that things can be much easier for the ruling party.