By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Awka
Mixed reactions have trailed the lists of gubernatorial candidates and their deputies (running-mates) published on Friday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Anambra State 2021 November 6 poll.
The list showed that the state ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji as candidate of the party instead of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo been rooted by Governor Willie Obiano and some of his kitchen cabinets.
It also contained the name of former aide to erstwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Andy Uba as standard flag bearer for the All Progressive Congress (APC), despite the agitations from some aspirants and stakeholders of the party in the state. It, however, left the column for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) vacant with an inscription "Court Order", thereby excluding both factional candidates of the party, Mr Valentine Ozigbo and Senator Ugochukwu Uba.
Also on the list were Accord, Mr Alex Nwankwo; Action Alliance (AA), Barr. Mrs Doreen Ifeoma Maduka-Arisa; Africa Action Congress (AAC), Mr Obi Chukwudozie; African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo; Action Democratic Party (ADP); Chief Afam Ume-Ezeoke; and Allied People's Movement (APM), Mr Eze Robinson Chukwuma.
Others were Action People's Party (APP), Mr Azubuike Echetebu; Boot Party, Mr Okeke Chika Jerry; Labour Party (LP), Obiora Agbasimelo; National Rescue Movement (NRM), Lady Uchenna Adaobi Okpeke; New Nigerian People's Party (NNPP), Sir Emeka Ohajimkpo; People's Redemption Party (PRP), Chief Nnamdi Nwawuo; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Arinze Ekelem; Young Progressive Party (YPP), Senator Ifeanyi Ubah; and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Chief Uche Ugwuoji.
The publication elicited jubilations from all the political parties flag bearers that made the list, while the camps of their opponents expressed shocks over the development, vowing to fight back to get justice.
Addressing his teeming supporters in Awka, the candidate of APGA, Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji, hailed INEC for hearkening to court order that upheld his candidature, even as he extended hands of fellowship to other aspirants.
Umeoji, who currently represents Aguata Federal Constituency at the Green Chamber, thanked governor Obiano (the BOT Chairman of APGA), the National party leadership led by Chief Jude Okeke, and others, assuring that he would run an open door policy if elected as governor, continue and complete the projets initiated by the outgoing government, among other things.
However, Soludo Support Group (SSG), a political pressure group canvassing for election of the ex-CBN boss as Anambra State governor, which incidentally, inaugurated chapters across all higher institutions in Nigeria, same time, said they were confident that their principal would still replace Umeoji.
Speaking to our reporter, Prof. Chinwuba Arinze, the Coordinator of All Higher Institutions for Soludo, said although they were schocked by the news but it won't stop aspiration of their principal because he has appealed it.
Arinze, who said they have students, academia and others as members, added that the development was a mere distraction which would not last a test of time, and urged their members to go about canvassing votes for their principal.
At Senator Andy Uba's campaign office in Awka, our correspondent saw his supporters also jubilating but was told the candidate was not around to grant him interview as at press time, while none of the PDP and APC stalwarts contacted was willing to speak at the moment.