Anambra Election: Who Will Emerge The Winner Amidst Unrest In The State!

There is a lot of tension in the air regarding the upcoming election in Anambra state. Barely a few days to the November 6th gubernatorial election, the state and its indigenes are at a crossroad, as they juggle between settling demands made by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), and organizing their gubernatorial election.

Everyone longs for an environment where they can have a free, fair, and credible election, in order to have a much-needed political solution for mutual benefit. But the demands laid down by the IPOB, and the various attacks that have been going on in the state call for alarm. There are 18 candidates of as many parties lobbying for the hearts and votes of Anambra people in one of the most uncertain elections Nigeria has ever had in its six decades history. Though it is not on the ballot papers and neither a state actor, the IPOB hung a heavy cloud that threatens the entire gubernatorial election. Specifically, IPOB had ordered a “total lockdown” of the South Eastern states for five days, inclusive of the day of the Anambra election, unless its leader, Nnamdi Kanu is released unconditionally from his present incarceration. Kanu is being tried on an amended seven-count charge of alleged treason, secession, and terrorism for which he had pleaded “not guilty”; and trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja has been adjourned to November 10, 2021, when his lawyers will be expected to raise objections to the charges. The IPOB declaration had, however, been widely interpreted to signify its opposition to the Anambra election; The organization has since clarified its position to the effect that it had not called for the boycott of the election but is concerned with the Federal Government’s failure to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention. The IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said the group had neither made any official statement nor called for the boycott of the November 6, 2021, Anambra State governorship election, adding that speculation of falsehood was unnecessary.

READ ALSO: IPOB Denies Calling For Boycott Of Anambra Governorship Election

Despite the clarification that its directive for lockdown from November 5 to November 10, 2021, has nothing to do with the election, but only for Kanu’s release, the political atmosphere is turbocharged. They ordered a lockdown for the release of their leader between November 5th to 10th, and they are fully aware that the election in the state is to hold on the 6th, one can’t help but wonder, what they intend to achieve. As a result of this, both the electorates and those to be elected are in panic mode. The buildup is so ugly that even the candidates could not openly campaign or make promises to voters. A number of candidates had held electioneering campaigns in far-flung places like Lagos, hoping that the message travels over 407 kilometers to reach people in Awka and beyond. Such is the dark atmosphere in the “light of the nation,” the foremost political and economic capital of eastern Nigeria!
READ ALSO: Cancellation of Sit-at-Home Protest In Anambra Is The Right Thing to Do And Commendable – Shehu Sani
Some of the most popular gubernatorial candidates include former CBN governor, Charles Soludo (APGA), Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP), Valentine Ozigbo (PDP), Andy Uba (APC), Nwankwo Chidozie (AAC); representing their various parties, and everyone is wondering who will emerge the winner, as the above-named candidates come from strong political parties that have won gubernatorial elections in the past.