IT THE FEAR OF OBIANO?

believed that with the ongoing reconciliation effort between the Ahmed Markrafi committee and the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction at the centre, the effect may trickle down the state to usher some sanity.

Although some analysts believed that ultimately the mantle of leadership of the chapter may fall on the former governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi, who prior to the 2015 presidential election, defected to the party, the assumption may not be fully correct given the popularity standing of the incumbent, especially one anchored on performance, others reckoned.

Even at that, names like Senator Andy Uba, Senator Stella Oduah, Mr. Henry Obaze and Senator Uche Ekwunife keep popping up as notable contenders for the party’s ticket for the 2017 governorship election in the state. While Uba hails from the state’s southern zone, Oduah, Obaze from the Northern zone, Ekwunife hails from the central zone.

A source however told THISDAY that Obi though in a good political relationship with Uba, Oduah and Ekwunife, he may Prefer Obaze from the state’s North zone, an international diplomat, who served as secretary to his administration; and would want him to pair Ekwunife from the central zone as his deputy. But all these r will depend on which side the leadership pendulum of the party will swing in the long run.

The People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) has Chief Godwin Ezeemo, a publisher and international businessman as its sole contender. He contested the 2013 governorship election in the state on the same party platform.

Now, even with these people known to be brushing up to do battle with the incumbent, Obiano, next year consulting and strategizing, the political environment in the state appears dull with a lull in vibrant political activities quite unlike in the past when a year to the election witnessed some boisterous activities with the atmosphere charged and aspirants discussed publicly.

The lull has variously been attributed to uncertainty in the political space, and the economic recession leading to lack of direction. Again, it is reasoned in political circles in the state that a great many of the aspirants don’t want to get kicking and be praised by sycophants, who will come to tell you how good and suitable you are only to shift base to another aspirant the moment they discover that you had exhausted yourself financially, buying booze, cooking and providing transport money after meetings even before the primaries proper.

“Many of them have gone through the terrain before and are now experienced. I think with the recession in place and minimal cash to throw about, cooking and drinking and transporting people, no sane politician would like to embark on an uncertain journey without being circumspect”, a political analyst in Awka, who pleaded aninymity told THIS DAY last week.