By PETRUS OBI
Since 1999 the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has held sway, winning all politcialp positions virtually unchallenged in Enugu State.
From Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, Sullivan Chime and Rt. Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, it’s been PDP running the politcial affairs of the state.
It’s been a large family where positions are decided at the PDP primaries. Whoever picked the party ticket is as good as having won the election proper.
Whatever threats to PDP’s dominance in Enugu has always been PDP itself. This comes in the form of internal crisis, which over time, have been successfully handled.
The closest of such internal wranglings was the tussle for the guber ticket where an Anayo Onwuegbu came very close to denying then incumbent Sullivan Chime the PDP guber ticket in 2011.
It was so close that Onwuegbu’s name was at a time pasted as the PDP Candidate at the State INEC Headquarters. This was the period Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo was the National Chairman of the party. The rest as it is said, is now history.
Again, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani in search of a return to the Senate at the height of his face off with his politcial godson, Sullivan Chime, joined PDC-People for Democratic Change.
He was reportedly cruising to victory until the instrument of government was brought to bear, and as usual PDP had its way.
Again, Ekweremadu’s rift with Governor Sullivan Chime over the Enugu West Senatorial position split the party leading to a parallel guber primary which produced Senator Ayogu Eze.
Ugwuanyi was adopted as the party Candidate and the ensuing legal battle ended at the Supreme Court.
Fast track to 2022 with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in charge. A man of few words, but highly tactical in politcial schemings. Ugwuanyi has smoothly adopted dialogue in settling politcial issues. He has been in charge and everything had gone on smoothly until former Deputy President of the Senate Ekweremadu declared interest to run for governor.
In the face of an existing Zoning formular, Ekweremadu, a heavy weight in his own right was seen as a major threat to the sustenance of the PDP domination in the state.
Bookmakers were of the view that the PDP would block him from picking the PDP ticket, thus, his defection was speculated and anticipated.
Seeing the handwriting on the wall, Ekweremadu pulled out of the guber primary, this was largely due to the delegates list which he alleged was manipulated.
Emergence of Peter Mbah
The emmergnce of Peter Mbah though in line with the Memorandum of understanding signed by all guber aspirants raised some issues and created bad blood amongst the top contenders.
The anger wasn’t against the candidate, so to say, but other avoidable issues that arose in the build up to the party primary.
As a result, Capt Evarest Nnaji (Odengene) withdrew from the primary, and refused to attend the primary.
The same with another top contender, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa who also stayed out of the primary. Only Chijioke Edeoga was a top four aspirant that took part.
The tension was high as tempers continued to rise. Speculations were rife, as the next line of action of the aspirant couldn’t be predicted. There were fears and apprehension in the party and the APC was lurking to catch in.
Ekweremadu’s behind the scene moves to join another party were speculated. It would soon be confirmed by the Enugu APC Chairman Barr Ugochukwu Agballa.
Agballa however, vowed that the party cannot grant his request for the APC guber ticket.
The unresolved issues from the PDP primary gave the APC some hopes that they could actually end the PDP domination in the State.
But not so fast, as the PDP Candidate, Barr Mbah had an ace up his sleeves.
A former Commissioner and successful businessman, the soft spoken governor in the making went to work. And before long succeeded to bring all aspirants together.
It was a politcial breakthrough for both the party and the candidate. A statement after the meeting confirmed an agreement to work together. Unity was returning.
While analysts were still wandering how he did it, Ekweremadu announced his decision to drop his guber ambition.
He said: “After considering that the things that hold us together as Ndi Enugu will ultimately outlive the treacheries of the moment;
“After receiving assurances from the gubernatorial candidate of our party, Barr. Peter Mba, that he would integrate our “Pathway to a New Enugu State” in his programme and his assurances of the participation of everybody in his campaign team and government;
“I, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, hereby formally withdraw from the 2023 gubernatorial contest in Enugu State. I congratulate Barr. Peter Mba and wish him success.
It is time to unite.”
It was a masterstroke. End of discussion; And 60% victory to PDP even before the whistle as Ekweremadu was seen as the candidate that could rock the boat or at least give the PDP a run for its money.
Analysts have hailed these two recent moves which has portrayed Peter Mbah as a man of peace and a go-getter.
It’s certainly a Peter Mbah Ace that would go a long way in determining who wins the 2023 guber elections as well as other elective positions in the state.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. These first steps are surely too significant to be neglected.
