Daily Independent Online.    
Monday, April 28, 2003

By Okey Maduforo, Awka 

Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige is one of Nigeria’s new kids on the political block. For a man who dreamed of becoming a senator under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but is now the governor-elect of Anambra State, fate has played a pleasant surprise. But the circumstances that led to his emergence paint the picture of a man at the receiving end of the state’s political woes.  

At the peak of the logjam between Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju and Sir Emeka Offor, the outgoing governor’s erstwhile godfather, Ngige’s role was more of a catalyst than troubleshooter. Activities of the protagonists of Mbadinuju, led by Chief Christian Uba; a moneybags and the governor’s linkman to Aso Rock, allegedly contributed to the economic adversity of the state. Today, Uba has assumed a new godfather status in the state’s politics as the benefactor of Dr. Ngige. 

The PDP in Anambra nominated Ngige as its flag bearer after several governorship primaries. When Ngige emerged; he looked like a new wine in an old wine skin. Comparatively, most of his rivals towered above him. Few were prepared to give him a benefit of the doubt as his supporters are described by critics as mostly political jobbers whose antecedents leave much to be desired. 

As Ngige basks in the euphoria of a governor-in-waiting, looming dangers in the state may turn his dream into a nightmare. Indeed, there are too many hurdles for him to cross.

 Election results protests

 Protests and litigations have trailed the National Assembly and governorship elections in the state over alleged monumental fraud and rape of democracy. The role of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Suleiman Hassan, has been described as suspect. Some opposition politicians said he was a man acting a script, saying the opposition parties were not allowed to contest on a level playing ground.  

At Awka North Local Government, elections were not held in the communities but the PDP candidate was declared winner in the area. Hassan told reporters that there were no elections in Anambra East Local government. A day after, he announced results for Anambra East and West Federal Constituency and declared the PDP winner. Aguata local government has the worst case. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was declared winner in the presidential and governorship elections, but at INEC’s headqurters in Awka, the PDP emerged victorious. 

At Ogbaru Local Government, the picture was an exhibition of falsehood and a chronicle of folly and mischief. On the day of the National Assembly election, the electoral officer of the area was found at Atani in front of the house of Mr. Uzoka, the incumbent PDP member of the House of Representatives. Though it wasn’t clear what his mission was at the place, the incident had more to it than meet the eyes. At Ochuche Umuodu community, where results were being collated, the district police officer told party agents that the returning officer for the area had stolen two ballot booklets containing (200) ballot papers, and that he was going to have him arrested. However, the PDP had its way. In Ward Six, the PDP scored 285 votes while APGA had 695 votes. But the electoral officer recorded 2,285 votes for PDP when other party members along side APGA questioned her, the officer called in mobile policemen who chased away the agents by firing gun shots into the air. 

 Orumba South Local Government was not left out in the show of shame. The PDP allegedly collaborated with INEC officers to falsify results. A man (names withheld) made away with electoral materials to the home of one of the traditional rulers in the area where figures were allegedly changed. The traditional ruler forced agents of the parties out of his palace and PDP was returned winner. 

Similar incidents took place in most parts of the state where armed soldiers and INEC officials arm-twisted electoral officers and party agents to give victory to the PDP. As at press time, the acclaimed victory of the PDP has thrown Anambra into a state of anarchy. Last week, thousands of women in the state took to the streets to protest the outcome of the governorship election. Irate youths have been on the rampage and the resident electoral commissioner, Hassan is at large.  

How Ngige hopes to come out clean of the electoral mess that allegedly produced him is left for his political think tank to explain. 

The Nigeria Labour Congress 

Perhaps, Ngige’s first headache is the vibrant organised labour in Anambra State. From the day he was presented with the flag of PDP, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has never hidden its fears about his candidacy. This stems from the fact that his godfather had a hand in the misrule of Mbadinuju government and has been severally accused of being a conduit pipe through which the resources of Anambra was siphoned. Worst still, is the position of the NLC on the governorship and assembly elections. According to the chairman, Mr. Charles Onyeagba, the results of the elections do not reflect the wills of the electorate, adding that reports from the labour monitoring committee contradicted the results of the elections. Onyeagba further said that the congress would fight to its logical conclusion what it described as the charade displayed by unpopular candidates and political failures. Onyeagba went a step further by leading a demonstration by the state la! bour congress to the INEC office to register its members’ displeasure with the outcome of the election. 

Also in the league of protesters is the Nigerian Bar Association, Onitsha branch. Speaking to Daily Independent, the acting chairman of the branch, Mr. Obele Chuka Obele, did not hide the association’s position on the two elections. “I must state here that going by what we have presently, the in-coming leaders are fast building up a state of anarchy and perpetrating mediocrity in the country’s polity. The results of the elections leave no one in doubt that we are enthroning falsehood, deceit and treachery into the system.” 

Though he made no mention of the PDP in Anambra, Ngige needs not be told that the arrow of NBA is pointed towards him and his colleagues in the party. Ngige has not been able to come to terms with the NBA factor in Anambra politics. 

Also, the Civil Liberty Organisation in the state has joined in the fight against electoral fraud. According to the state coordinator of the CLO, Mr. Emeka Ume Agbalasi, the country is drifting into hell. “The result of the election can tell you that there was wide scale rigging. Places where they said elections held, no election took place there. Results were compiled in somebody’s home and INEC selected party agents in the name of staff.  

This portends anarchy, misrule, betrayal and hopelessness. Anambra people should be wary of elements that are out to mess the system up,” he said. Agbalasi further stated that the organisation would resist what he called an attempt by some so-called leaders to install bad governance in the state, adding that a government that came into being through fraudulent means has no blueprint for the masses and less-privileged people. 

While the CLO is after the neck of election fraudsters, APGA is enjoying a fast rising profile in the state. The party is fast threatening the PDP. The bickering that was the bane of the two elections has whipped up sentiments for the party among the Igbo. Recently, Chief  Chukwuemeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu declared at a press conference that for true democracy to thrive in the country, the real election results should be released. Also the plan by Mr. Peter Obi, the governorship candidate of APGA, to challenge the election results in court is another nightmare being faced by Dr. Ngige.  

Joined in this fight are Chief George Moghalu of the ANPP, Obinna Uzoh of the NDP and Joe Martins Uzodike of UNPP. These governorship candidates have closed ranks to give Ngige a good run for his money. It was equally gathered that Mbadinuju who has long forgotten his second term bid is rooting for Mr. Peter Obi. Daily Independent gathered that in a recent meeting held at the governor’s lodge, he urged all candidates to ensure that the most popular candidate was returned. Mbadinuju did not hide his vendetta against Ngige.  

The coalition of ANPP, UNPP, APGA and NDP is becoming formidable.  Worst still is what Ngige-led PDP has in his arsenal to counter the upsurge of opposition. The politicians that made PDP the doyen of Anambra State have all dispersed.  

They can be found in UNPP, AD and ANPP. In the light of the above, Ngige may need to search deep for the generals that would fight his war. Christian Uba, Ikechukwu Abana, Emma Nwode, and Okey Odunze, the PDP chieftains behind Ngige, do not command the support of their people. During the governorship election, Uba was stoned at Aguata, his hometown. 

The governor-elect is making frantic effort to bring back PDP deserters. He told Daily Independent that the UNPP in the state has joined the PDP; but Chief Joseph Okonkwo, chairman of the party spoke otherwise. “There has never been a meeting where we agreed to go back to PDP. All those stories are not true,” he said. [OHP]