From Okey Ikenna
Ahead of the primary of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to elect who flies the party’s flag in September 28 Local Government Area elections, the industrial town of Nnewi, Nnewi North Council Area has been thrown into an uneasy calm.
Aspirants under the ruling APGA government have declared their intentions, been campaigning vigorously until the party Chairman, Hon Tony Muodielo (Klassic) on Sunday night dropped a bomb shell that the leadership of the party in the State has allegedly instructed him to deliver one of the contenders, Hon. Echezona Anazodo.
Before that day, the party’s critical stakeholders were said to have met at the residence of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Innoson Group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma (Ifediaso Nnewi) to agree on a particular candidate, which we gathered ended in a deadlock.
But many APGA stakeholders have continued to point to the direction of an aspirant they described as the most popular candidate, Mr Dennis Ikegwuonu, by their assessment, who has been in market leadership and visibly accepted with the capability to emerge victorious in the main election.
Before the meeting, certain individuals had gone ahead to canvass for the choice of a lecturer from the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Hon Okey Offor to be considered, even though it is alleged that he did not enjoy general acceptability by all the stakeholders and party members in the industrial city.
Since Hon. Muodielo revealed to the party faithful that he had been instructed to deliver Hon Anazodo, the industrial town of Nnewi has been thrown into a frenzy agitations.
Even the organizers of the earliest stakeholders meeting were said to be unfavourably disposed to the emergence of Anazodo who was said to be anointed by Chief Cletus Ibeto from Otolo, Nnewi.
Rumour about how Hon Anazodo became the preferred choice of the Anambra State Executive Council of APGA has continued to spread like wild fire.
In his Save Our Soul(SOS) message to the Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, a table shaker made some shocking revelations.
He actually accused a very wealthy business tycoon, a strongman of Anambra politics and some community leaders in Umudim, among others of plotting to hijack the process.
It was gathered that the fate of Umudim, Nnewi over their choice of who they present as the APGA candidate was actually sealed on August 10, 2024 at the Otolo, Nnewi residence of the business tycoon.
Some revelations on how to hijack the electoral process by the schemers were said to have jolted other critical stakeholders in Nnewi who in turn rushed to Anawbia Governor’s Lodge and Government House, Awka to checkmate the supposed hijackers.
A source at Governor’s Lodge said that the Commisioner for Industry, Mr Christian Udechukwu, has equally stormed his boss’s lodge over the matter for peace to reign.
Many other stakeholders in Nnewi who have links with the Anambra State Governor have thrown their cap into the ring to ensure that the most popular and most credible aspirant gets the APGA ticket for Nnewi North LGA elections.
As it is now, it appears time has come for the ‘who is who’ that has any form of relationship with Prof Soludo to flaunt it.
While the silent combustion continues, all eyes of Ndi Nnewi home and abroad are on the Anambra State Governor, Prof Soludo for the final master stroke.
