Ekweozo in Battle for Anambra Rerun
Nkem Ekweozo is the candidate of the Mega Progressive People’s Party in the rerun for Anambra central senatorial district scheduled for March 5. Charles Onyekamuo, who spoke to him recently, writes that his ambition to win the senatorial seat is genuine,
On March 28, 2015, when the national election were held, three parties – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – stood shoulder high among other parties that contested the election in Anambra central senatorial district.
Their candidates represented by Hon. (Mrs.) Uche Ekwunife, Senator Chris Ngige and Chief Victor Umeh respectively were on the people’s lips out of the many other candidates. Indeed, there were about 13 candidates in all from the registered political parties that participated in the National Assembly election.
It thus became clear that the winner of the election would emerge from one of the big three. And true to prediction, the PDP candidate, Uche Ekwunife was declared winner of the election by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).
Her victory became a subject of litigation at the election petition tribunal which sat in Awka, the Anambra State capital with the APGA candidate, Chief Victor Umeh disputing the results. He had even before filling his petition claimed that he won and that the results collated by his agents in the field, which he reposed confidence in were at variance with what the INEC declared, short of saying the electoral umpire merely allocated figures.
Though his petition which eventually reflected those claims failed at the tribunal, he was undeterred and proceeded to the Court of Appeal that sat in Enugu. The court had after reviewing the decision of the tribunal granted his appeal on the ground that her nomination ab initio was faulty. The court consequently annulled her election on December 7, 2015 and ordered a re-run within 90 days.
Now, the INEC has fixed the rerun for March 5. As it were, the candidate of PDP, Uche Ekwunife had been excluded from contesting by virtue of the Court of Appeal decision of December 7, last year. The APC candidate in the election, Dr. Chris Ngige is now the serving Minister of Employment and Productivity in the Muhammadu Buhari led federal administration, thus leaving Umeh as the main contender in the rerun.
This is not to say that there are no candidates of other parties contesting. For instance, the Mega Progressive People’s Party (MPPP) has a candidate in Nkem Ekweozo, a 39 year old lawyer with over 10 years at the Bar; the Citizens Popular Party (CPP) has fielded Chief Akudo Chikwendu, while Chief Chuma Nwofor (Labour Party) make up the pack.
But the MPPP candidate, who participated in the March 28, 2015 National Assembly election, which re-run had been scheduled for next Saturday, is blowing hot saying the rerun election is between him and Umeh.
According to him, people already see the election as that of Umeh to triumph given his political stature, but that it would be a battle royale – the kind between David and Goliath in the Bible in which David triumphed over Goliath through God’s anointing.
“I am running with Umeh the APGA candidate in the rerun, the ADC’s Anayo Nweke, Chuma Nwofor of Labour Party and the CPP’s Akudo Chikwendu” he said.
He claimed that his chances are very bright given the reception and acceptance he met from leaders and supporters in the wards, he had taken his campaign train to, adding that the acceptance of his candidature and mission to the National Assembly had been overwhelming in electoral wards in Ogidi, Obosi, Mgbakwu and even in Anaocha local government area, Umeh’s home council area among others in the 109 electoral wards in the district.
“I will give my best and the time has come to showcase the ideas I have,” he said.
Part of his priority in the senate if elected on March 5, he said is to move a motion that everybody in Nigeria would be paid a monthly allowance of N30,000, whether the person is working or not given the country’s resources and harsh economic reality on the ground.
Although he appears to be nurturing a very tall ambition, he is however very passionate and sincere about service to fatherland. Besides, he has age on his side and the energy to truly drive the change he seeks, if elected. Unfortunately, there is the belief that with the factors of name recognition, war chest and above all, experience evidently lacking in his case, it would require the extra-ordinary to have him reify this lofty dream.
Although he appears to be nurturing a very tall ambition, he is however very passionate and sincere about service to fatherland. Besides, he has age on his side and the energy to truly drive the change he seeks, if elected. Unfortunately, there is the belief that with the factors of name recognition, war chest and above all, experience evidently lacking in his case, it would require the extra-ordinary to have him reify this lofty dream