Chief Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President |
The zone, which parades PDP
stalwarts such as the former Senate President, Chief Dr. Ken Nnamani, former governors Chief Jim Nwobodo and Dr. Chimaroke
Nnamani and some other distinguished new breed politician, has always played a
leading role in the state’s politics since the new democratic dispensation in
the country.
In the 2015 elections, the
zone became the political hot-bed of the state as a result of the array of
contestants that wanted to either occupy the senatorial or House of
Representatives seat from the zone.
These included former
Governor Nnamani, Senator Gilbert Nnaji, former Information minister, Frank Nweke (jnr), Sullivan Chime’s
mistress and immediate past Chief of Staff in the state, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, former House of Representative member, Princess Peace Nnaji, a House of
Representative member, Chukwuemeka Ujam
among others.
Although the General
Elections ended about seven months ago, the discontents thrown up by its
outcome are yet to settle in the zone as the combatants are still in court over
the exercise.
Only recently, the Election
Petition Tribunal upheld the election of Chime
Orji in a challenge thrown by Hon.
Offor Chukwuegbo over the Enugu North and South Federal Constituency seat.
The same goes for Ujam, whose declaration as winner of the Nkanu East and West
federal constituency seat by the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) was contested at the tribunal by Nnoli
Nnaji.
But Senator Gilbert Nnaji could not escape with his as the tribunal
nullified his election for Enugu East Senatorial district election following a
petition against his election by former Governor Nnamani.
The tribunal had last month
ruled for fresh elections in the six local government councils in the zone
within ninety days. Senator Nnaji is still sitting at the Senate by the
strength of the appeal he lodged at the Court of Appeal. A few other cases from
the zone are still in the tribunal.
Recall that the political
gulf in the zone thrown up over the manner in which the PDP handled the
primaries that led to the emergence of the candidates is yet to be resolved.
While the PDP in the state
mulls the development in the party in the area since the end of the elections,
coupled with the recent annulment of Senator Nnaji’s election, a new issue has
emerged that may compound and stretch further the discontent in the party, is
the position of State Chairman zoned to the area.
The state chairmanship of
the PDP is moving to the zone the first time in sixteen years based on the
rotation principle among the three zones of the party. Before now, Chief Charles Egumgbe from Enugu
West Zone now Commissioner for Water Resources held the position. Chief
Egumgbe, who became the pioneer chairman of the party, was later appointed into
the Chimaroke Nnamani government as commissioner. This paved the way for the
emergence of Chief Dr. Onyioha Nwanjoku
from the same zone, to complete the tenure of the area.
From Enugu West, the
position moved to Enugu North, where Chief
Engineer Vita Abba took the mantle of leadership until early this year when
he resigned to contest the Nsukka/Igboeze South House of Representative seat,
which he lost. Abba’s resignation brought in Chief Ikeje Asogwa, also from the same zone.
About four months to the
end of the tenure of Asogwa, the contest over who replaces him from Enugu East
Senatorial zone has started gathering momentum. In the last count, at least
seventeen stalwarts of the party from the zone are allegedly showing interest
in the position.
Investigations reveals
that aspirants are coming from the six local governments that make up the
senatorial zone and are relying on the support of the prominent party leaders
and stakeholders in the area, especially those with future aspiration. The list
is made up of out-going council chairmen, former as well as serving officials of
the party from the zone among others.
Such names as incumbent
Secretary of the party, Steve Oruruo,
former secretary of the party, Chief
Dons Ude, former Council chairman, Jerry
Eneh, PDP Youth Leader, Enugu East, Anthony
Nwachukwu and Uche Oko are said
to be gunning for the position from Nkanu West local council.
From Nkanu East Council,
Outgoing Council Chairman, Sam Iyiogwe,
Jonny Nwatu and Frank Anioma are
featuring, while Enugu South has Chief
Ifeanyi Nnaji, Deacon Okey Ogbodo and
Freedom Nnam.
Enugu East has out-going
council chairman, Cornelius Nnaji and Chief Eddy Nnaji, while outgoing
Council chairman of Enugu north; Emeka
Edeh is coming from the area as well as outgoing council chairman of Isiuzo
local government, Augustine Nnamani.
It was gathered that the
aspirants are either lining up behind the movers and shakers of Enugu East
Senatorial zone politics and stakeholders from others zones to achieve
their ambition or are being put forward by the political leaders as part
of the strategy to gain political foothold of the party in the future.
For instance, it was learnt
that, although Deputy Senate President, Chief
Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, is not from the zone, his political camp, interested in
his future politically, especially his return in 2019 has put up Hon. Frank Anioma. A source disclosed
that the decision to do so was reached after the camp reviewed the tough battle
that came his way last year during the primary of the party, which pitched him
against the former governor, Barrister Sullivan
Chime, which he incidentally won.
The source disclosed that
his camp has decided to support the aspiration of Hon. Anioma, who is one of
his aides to pave the way for him in 2019, adding that they were not prepared
to give in to any chance.
Jerry Eneh is said to be
coming from the camp of former Senate President, Ken Nnamani camp; having
served as Council chairman for Nkanu West under Chimaroke Nnamani. Mr Steve
Oruruo, Ifeanyi Nnaji and Freedom Nnam are said to be coming from the camp of
Senator Gilbert Nnaji.
Nnaji, whose election as senator,
has been quashed by the tribunal is said to be interested in the position of
the state chairman to further entrench his position as the political leader of
the zone. Sources said that Nnaji, who had been in government since 1999 has
his eyes on the governorship of the state in 2023 when the position would
return to his Enugu East zone and when the present occupant would have
served out his tenure.
It was however learnt that
one of the greatest challenge the aspiration from his camp faces may come from
the camp of the former Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, who is said to have
her eyes on the senate seat. Nwobodo lost the bid to represent the Enugu East
Senatorial zone in the last election to Nnaji. Her political camp is said to be
unrelenting and has lined up out-going council chairmen, Cornelius Nnaji, (brother to Gilbert), Sam Iyiogwe, Emeka Edeh as well as Eddy Nnaji for the position.
unrelenting and has lined up out-going council chairmen, Cornelius Nnaji, (brother to Gilbert), Sam Iyiogwe, Emeka Edeh as well as Eddy Nnaji for the position.
Sources said that Mrs
Nwobodo, though not in government presently, still weighs some influence on the
present administration having played significant role towards its emergence. It
is being speculated that she might capitalize on her closeness with the
governor to produce the next chairman of the party. Those who hold this school
of thought believe that it would seriously impact positively on her senatorial
ambition in 2019.
Deacon Okey Ogbodo is said
to be enjoying the sympathy of former governor Jim Nwobodo. His greatest asset
is that he had been a long-term member of the party in the state.
Anthony Nwachukwu, the
Enugu East senatorial zone youth leader appear to be doing the battle alone,
apparently based on his conviction that his long stay and consistency in the
party which dates back to 1998 could woo support on his side.
Isiuzo local government
seems to be left out in the entire arrangement, as though the council chairman
is rumoured to be interested in the position, he has not become loud about it
like others.
Sources link the
development to the 2023 governorship election, which will rotate to Enugu East
after the present occupant; Rt. Hon.
Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, must have served out his eight years tenure in line
with the understanding in the state PDP.
Governor Ugwuanyi’s body
language, the source added favours a state chairman from the five core councils
of Nkanu land so as to pave way for his successor to come from Isiuzo local
government. (guardian)
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