Anambra Election: 5 Reasons PDP Won Only 1 LG Despite Peter Obi, Senator Ekwunife's Influence
Early results in the Anambra governorship election show that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is behind the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
So far the opposition party's candidate Valentine Ozigbo only won one local government area in the ongoing exercise.
Source: Facebook
Ozigbo polled 3,445 votes to defeat Chukwuma Soludo, candidate of APGA, who polled 3,051 votes, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) got 1,178 votes in Ogbaru LGA.
This is PDP’s first and only win among the LGAs announced so far. In spite of the influence of former governor Peter Obi and Senator Uche Ekwunife, chairperson of the Anambra state Campaign Council of the PDP.
The fact that both politicians were also not able to deliver Anaocha, their local government area has probably put a dent on Obi and Ekwunife's political clout.
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In this piece, Legit.ng highlights five reasons why the PDP only won one local government area:
1. Assertiveness of Anambra electorates
The 2021 Anambra governorship election proved that the electorate is enlightened enough and capable of independently selecting their preferred leader contrary to insinuations in some quarters.
Although the turnout wasn't massive, voters decided to speak in one voice by distancing themselves from political godfathers, and outside manipulation.
Voter preferences indicated that the electorates focused on the strength of the candidates more than the platforms they were contesting under.
2. Lack of bragging rights
Some political actors in the southeast state who were not on the ballot supported candidates that fell by the wayside. They include a 2019 vice-presidential candidate who must have lost his bragging rights within PDP by two straight losses of his preferred candidates.
In 2017, Obi's candidate Oseloka Obaze lost to Governor Obiano, and Ozigbo to Obiano’s preferred candidate. The former governor was also accused of last-minute intervention in the PDP governorship primary.
3. INEC’s neutrality
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was determined to deliver a credible election despite the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) malfunctioning.
Amidst allegations that the electoral body was in cahoots with a political party, it was obvious that no such plot was afoot as polls opened.
Impressive innovations have tended to win voter confidence and credibility of ballot outcomes.
4. APGA’s ability to withstand adversity
The resilience of APGA despite the internal crisis which resulted in the defection of high-profile stakeholders did not go unnoticed.
APGA proved to many that the ruling party in Anambra state was too entrenched to be affected by internal squabbles and opposition.
The party's strength as well as the wide acceptance of its flagbearer bearer played a part in it beating PDP regardless of its victory strategies.
5. PDP internal crisis
The opposition party had been engulfed in internal crisis both at the national and state level before the election.
PDP conducted a parallel primary election which produced Senator Ugochukwu Uba and Ozigbo as winners.
Though Ozigbo was recognised by the party's national leadership, disenfranchised delegates kicked against the process that produced the former Transcorp Plc boss.
Battle's not yet over: PDP's Ozigbo reveals how he can still win Anambra Gov election
In a previous report by Legit.ng, Ozigbo expressed optimism that he can still emerge victorious.
The Independent National Electoral (INEC) had in the early hours of Monday, November 8, suspended the collation of results on the grounds that election did not hold in Ihiala local government area.
Although Ozigbo secured the second highest votes (51,322) in the election, he won only one of the 20 LGAs. The margin between Soludo and Ozigbo currently stands at 52,624.
Source: Legit.ng
