In Anambra, a few figures and occasions influenced the political climate in the final year of 2023.
The general elections of 2023, Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra State, and numerous other political figures were among these occasions and figures.
Events demonstrating that things are not as they used to be are continuing to appear as the year comes to an end.
Peter Obi factor and general elections
Anambra State held elections in November 2021 and Prof. Chukwuma Soludo was chosen to serve as governor. On March 29, 2022, Soludo was subsequently sworn in.
The manner in which Soludo, Peter Obi, Ifeanyi Ubah, and Ekwunife impacted Anambra politics in 2023
However, a number of factors regarding Anambra’s participation altered when Mr. Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, entered the general elections of 2023 as the Labour Party’s candidate.
One of Anambra’s most well-regarded governors, Obi, is also said to have done a great job; in addition, his bravery, calm demeanor, and candor won over a lot of people, so much so that the state’s politics gained significant attention despite Anambra not having a governor elected.
The main reason for the anxiety, especially in Anambra, was the widespread expectation that Obi would exploit his popularity to win all the legislative seats, both at Soludo’s expense, the National Assembly and state assembly will win the majority of the votes in Anambra in the presidential election. While not all of this was accomplished, over half of it was.
Soludo, who had been asleep, became interested in the permutations and began to hope that Anambra was an APGA state. Soludo worked quickly to capture 17 seats in the assembly out of the 30 state constituencies after realizing at the last minute that a delay may result in LP lawmakers controlling the state assembly.
In the legislature’s thirty members, the Labour Party (LP) won eight seats and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won seventeen.
In the state assembly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won two seats and the YPP won three. Additionally, APGA secured two of the three Senate seats.
In the state assembly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won two seats and the YPP won three. Additionally, APGA secured two of the three Senate seats.
Allegations surfaced that the state government purchased votes with the money to help the APGA gain a majority of seats in the state assembly.
Prior to the governorship and House of Assembly elections, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (INTERSOCIETY) claimed that twenty states will spend over N50 billion on vote-buying.
The organization said that Anambra was expected to spend lavishly between N2 billion and N2.5 billion, while the three states with the highest spending levels were Lagos (N10 billion), Rivers (N6 billion to N10 billion), and Delta (N5 billion to N6 billion), in a statement signed by the organization’s board chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, and others.
The Factor Soludo
In 2023, Soludo played a significant role in Anambra politics. Many questioned why he was so hostile to Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, despite the fact that he was of APGA descent. Rather than being well-known for endorsing Prof. Peter Umeadi, the party’s presidential nominee, Soludo was more closely linked to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s nominee.
The 2022 open letter written by Soludo with the heading “History Beckons, I won’t be silent” One factor that many used to gauge the governor’s thoughts was November. Even though he was known to be an ally of Obi, he was accused by many of displaying such extreme hatred in the letter. While many were denouncing Soludo for being so harsh on Obi, the governor’s allies exercised care, knowing where their principle stood, and responded similarly by standing up for him. This exacerbated and polarized the state politics even further.
APC’s Gains and Defections
The All Progressives Congress, or APC, is one party in Anambra that will head home proud of its accomplishments as the year comes to an end and the political landscape for 2023 is set to unfold. The party is increasingly gaining acceptance after being known for a long time as the “Fulani party” in Anambra State.
The APC has been involved in Anambra politics for a number of years, but it has rarely been able to have any influence on state assembly, gubernatorial, or national assembly elections. The party and its candidates were unable to win any seats in the most recent election.
However, they are currently winning through defections what they were unable to gain in the polls. Senators Ifeanyi Ubah and Uche Ekwunife are the most recent defectors; it is thought that they have a partnership that will allow them to become Anambra’s governors in 2025. The APC members in Anambra are currently in a great mood and are confident that, with their unity and the quality of politicians they have added, they can depose Soludo in 2025.
Death of PDP in Anambra
It is impossible to discuss politics in Anambra without mentioning the PDP, which was formerly the biggest party in Black Africa, is all but extinct in the state.
The party does not currently have any leadership in the state because of multiple lawsuits. Additionally, the state’s once-powerful party is unable to identify its constituents since they are quickly defecting to other political parties.