2017 Guber: Fear Grips Other Parties as APC Launches Operation Seize Anambra

Previous speculations that the national leadership of the APC may mobilize their might down to Anambra to seize the state may have been confirmed as the party has today launched a mass operation that will see it  seize power from APGA in the forthcoming governorship election re-run election held recently.

APC since the current dispensation has not lost any governorship election in any state. It has previously taken Kogi, Edo, Ondo and it is expected that Anambra would be the next port of call for the party's henchmen.

To fend them off, incumbent governor Obiano who is also seeking re-election would need the courage of Governor Nyesom Wike who stood his ground in Rivers State and won his party majority seat in the senate and house of represenatatives in a  a recent re-run election in the state.

Political analysts however insist that Obiano does not have the character and might of Wike or even Fayose of Ekiti state, and as such, APC may mobilise its men to conquer the state in November.

The stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) launched operation sweep Anambra earlier today, a political operation it said is aimed at bringing the greater number of the people of the state to its fold to ensure victory for the party in the coming governorship election.

The party said it is targeting atleast one million, out of the estimated four million people in the state, and was set to sweep the governorship poll of the state which comes up later in November this year.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Awka yesterday, the Party’s registration committee chairman, former deputy governor of Abia State, Dr. Chris Akomas, declared that nothing less than one million people will be registered during the exercise.

The re-registration exercise which kicked off yesterday in the state began with the minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and was followed by governorship hopefuls in the 2017 election, Chief George Moughalu, Dr. Obinna Uzor, Sir Barth Nwibe, Hon. Tony Nwoye among others.

The meeting was attended by political heavy weights in the state including those hoping to actualize their governorship ambition on the platform of the party, also former commissioners, former council chairmen in the state among others.

Addressing the crowd, the chairman of the five man APC registration committee for the state, Dr. Chris Akomas, said from what he had seen already, the party was prepared for the November governorship election in the state.  

   

He warned that the party would not tolerate any form of violence during the exercise, adding that their target was over one million persons for the party in Anambra.

He while charging those aspiring for various political positions in the state to work hard in the exercise, saying that the more people they had, the more chances of winning the elections.

Furthermore, he told them that the import of the registration was not for the dissolution of the current state executive of the party in the state as being speculated, calling on the people to disregard any form of propaganda going on.

Also speaking, the former governor of Anambra state and leader of the party in the state, Senator Chris Ngige, warned that the only person who would lose his seat after the registration was anybody that failed to register.

Ngige, commended the APC stakeholders in the state for the massive turn out yesterday, adding that it showed that they were on the right track for winning the governorship election in the state.

All Plans to Pull Obi Down Are Hatched in Anambra, Says Kinsmen

Kinsmen of former  Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi have lamented that all efforts aimed at pulling their son down in the politics of Nigeria have been hatched in Anambra State.

Soludo Yet to Register in His Ward, Says APC Chairman

Former Central Bank Nigeria(CBN) Governor, Prof Charles Soludo has denied reports that he was planning to join the race for Anambra governorship election which holds later this year.

Obiano Dragged to Court Over Kingship Tussle in Anambra Community - Urged to deploy security to avert breakdown of law

Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano has been dragged before the High Court of Anambra State over the lingering tussle in Nanka community of Orumba North LGA, over who succeeds the community’s late monarch, Igwe Gilbert Oformata.

Barr Odinaka Obiorah, an indigene of the community who filed a matter before the High Court, causing the court to serve the governor a writ of summon stated that his interest is to ensure that the wrong person was not enthroned as the monarch for the community.

Several communities in Anambra State are in turmoil over choice of monarch, with many having already resulted in bloody clashes that have claimed lives.

In Nanka, a group, Nanka Progressives Union(NPU) had early January elected and crowned Chief Godwin Ezeilo as King, but they were challenged by another group, Nanka Peoples Assembly(NPA), which challenged their competence in carrying out the action.

The president General of NPU, Chief Bernard Onyekwelu had stated that those challenging the crowning of a new King after the burial of the last one were trouble makers who were scheming to retain the kingship in their village.

But in reply to this, the NPA President General, Chief Emmanuel Ezeume insisted that the community has no king, and Ezeilo who was crowned by the opposition would not be recognised.

He called on governor Obiano to act fast to avert the breakdown of law and order in his domain as the fight for the kingship could cause serious fracas in the community.

Barr Ken Nwanna of Nwanna & Co., counsel to Obiorah who filed the matter in court said his client’s interest in the matter was to stop Obiano from issuing staff of office to Ezeilo, who has been crowned monarch by NPU, or even recognising him as a monarch in Anambra State.

He said the process for the selection of Ezeilo as king of the community was flawed, moreso as a proper burial rite for the demised former king has not been concluded. He also pointed out the validity of the constitution under which Ezeilo was elected was still being contested.

NPU had in an election contested by three candidates elected Ezeilo on 2^nd January, and crowned him on 5^th January. Onyekwelu insists that there is no going back on Ezeilo’s kingship as he enjoys the support of the seven villages and 23 wards of the community.

KINSMEN DISOWN AFORKA OVER GOVERNORSHIP AMBITION

 

The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA executives and stakeholders in Aguluzigbo, Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State have denied ever endorsing Dr Elo Aforka, a members of the cabinet in the state to compete with his boss, Governor Willie Obiano for the governorship seat.

 

The executives and stakeholders of the party in Aguluzigbo after their respective emergency meetings issued a statement, signed by Mr. Marcel Okafor and Mr. Ebele Aniekwe, Chairman and Secretary respectively, of APGA Aguluzigbo Ward, disassociated themselves from the alleged endorsement of Dr Aforka and his governorship ambition.

 

They also had a joint meeting in the Aguluzigbo where they declared that “the entire APGA Aguluzigbo Ward Executive and stakeholders never endorsed or supported the Governorship ambition of Dr Elo Aforka as allegedly claimed by him as contained in FaceBook.”

 

“The purported endorsement by Aguluzigbo Ward of APGA as carried on the FaceBook never took place, our unflinching support to His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, the Governor of Anambra State and his second term bid is total.”  

 

In another statement signed by 21 APGA executive members and 28 APGA stakeholders, who personally wrote their names and signed their signatures, they condemned Dr Aforka’s ambition, declaring it “as huge joke of the year.”

 

“We disassociate ourselves and condemn in strong terms and in its entirety the so called Anambra State governorship ambition of Dr Aforka and our purported endorsement of same.

 

“Dr Elo Aforka is currently serving in the present administration of our ever working Governor, Chief  Willie Obiano, it is confirmed beyond reasonable doubt that he is being used by political opponents of Chief Willie Obiano, and Chief Victor Umeh, to bring irreparable distrust, misunderstanding and damage to the relationship to their relationship.

 

“The purported endorsement of Dr Aforka by APGA in Aguluzigbo is also to destroy the good relationship the entire Aguluzigbo town has with the Governor, under whose administration  we massively benefited in governmental infrastructural development, such as roads, markets, health centers and political appointment, to mention but a few.

 

“The entire Members of APGA in Aguluzigbo at home, abroad and in Diaspora do herby reaffirm strongly and incontrovertibly their unflinching support to Chief Obiano’s government and his second term bid which shall definitely come to full realization.”

Killing of Two Herdsmen upsets Anambra Community - Police Deploys 500 Officers to maintain Peace

Fear has gripped the people of Umuoba-Anam in Anambra East local government area of Anambra state, following alleged killing of two cattle breeders by unknown persons in the area at the weekend.

Anambra Guber: Ifeanyi launches New Move to Dislodge Uba/Ekwunife for APC Ticket

Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas, Chief Ifeanyi Uba may have launched a new tactics to topple Senator Andy Uba and his alleged running mate on the platform of APC to pick the ticket for himself.

Shun Partisanship if You Must Succeed, Igbo forum tasks new Ohanaeze leadership

An Igbo socio cultural organization, Ndigbo Unity Forum, NUF, has tasked the Chief Nnia Nwodo-led newly elected leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to stay off partisan politics if his leadership must succeed.

War of Words in Nanka, Over Coronation of New Igwe, as Opposition Rejects Monarch

Two groups in Nanka Community of Orumba North local government of Anambra State are currently engaging each other in a war of words over the coronation of the new Igwe of the community, Igwe Godwin Ezeilo.

IPOB Gives Uwazuruike 4 Days to Apologise to Kanu - Threatens to Release Damaging Information of His Fraudulent Practices

There is apparent crack in the fight for the actualization of a sovereign state of Biafra as the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has attacked Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who is leader of Biafra Independent Movement, BIM over fraudulent practices he perpetuated in the struggle for the actualization of Biafra.

I'll Remain inj PDP, Those Running to APC Are Political Jobbers, Says Chidoka

A former Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka  has affirmed his membership of the Peoples Democratic, PDP, saying that he will never be a part of Anambra Politicians who are defecting to All Progressives Congress, APC, with the hope of getting federal backing to win elections.

Igweship Tussle Tears Nanka Community Apart - As Opposition Moves to Crown New Monarch

The fight over who will mount the traditional stool of Nanka community of Orumba North local government area of Anambra has torn the community apart, leaving indigenes of the community in factions.

This is following the transition of the previous monarch of the community, His Royal Highness, Igwe Gilbert Oformata.

It was gathered that since the demise of the late monarch early last year, the community has been enmeshed in turmoil with some sections of the community jostling to produce his successor.

The recent insistence of Nanka Progressive Union(NPU), a voluntary group said to be championed by three indigenes of the community who have constituted themselves into the kingmakers of the community to crown a new king has however further plunged the community into crises.

Our correspondent gathered that the group led by Chiefs Polycarp Emenike, Ebele Nwosu, Peter Chinedu who are also joined by Chief Okwudili  Ezenwankwo have however elected Chief Godwin Ezeilo as the Eze elect of the town, and also waiting to crown him.

In a swift reaction to their election of Ezeilo as the Eze elect of the town by the NPU on 2^nd January, another group, Nanka Peoples Assembly(NPA) has kicked against it, saying that the it does not have the constitutional backing to elect a monarch for the community, being a voluntary organization.

Briefing journalists on Thursday in Nanka, the president general of NPA, Chief Emmanuel Ezeume told journalists that Nanka community will not accept the foisting of a monarch on it for any reason, especially from NPU, which it said does not have the constitutional power to elect a king for the community.

Ezeume said, “These people have made themselves out into the kingmakers of the community, even though they are a voluntary organisation that do not have the power to elect a king for the community.

“The matter is still in court, and yet, without recourse to that, they have gone ahead on 2^nd January to choose an Igwe elect, and you agree with me that this amounts to subjudice. Since the death of the former traditional ruler, they have been standing our custom on its head, just to ensure they take over the machinery of crowning kings in the community.

“This group has also been written by the state government through the ministry of local government and chieftaincy matters, warning them to follow due process in selecting a monarch for the community. First they sought to hold the late monarch’s last ofala, even when his body is still in the morgue, just to make way for them to elect a new monarch.

“The ministry cautioned them not to stand the tradition on its head, as it is usually traditional for the dead body of a monarch to be interred first before the last ofala, which usually heralds the selection process for another monarch.”

He lamented that in spite of these warnings, the NPU and their points men went ahead and held an ofala festival for the late monarch, in a bush in Agbiligba village, neglecting the warning of the Anambra Traditional rulers council, which had initially warned that no last ofala outside the palace of the late monarch will be accepted.

Ezeume said, “They held the last ofala of the late monarch in the bush, in the absence of all members of the royal family, traditional rulers in the state and other titled men. This is a shame, and we reject it in totality.

Ezeume called on the Anambra State governor, Chief Willie to quickly wade into the crisis in the community as it may escalate into full blown crises if nothing is done.

The chairman of the inauguration committee for the crowning of the Eze elect, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo however did not respond to calls when our reporter sought his reaction, but it was gathered that arrangements were in top gear by his committee for the coronation of a new monarch.

Anambra 2017: APC to Field Andy Uba/Ekwunife - As Party Shuns Obiano’s Advances

WWW.ELEKENEWS.COM can authoritatively report that plans are in top gear to field Senator Andy Uba as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate of the 2017 governorship election in Anambra State.