HOW PDP INFLUENCED THE UNPOPULAR GOVT IN ANAMBRA

Dear Editor,

HOW PDP INFLUENCED THE UNPOPULAR GOVT IN ANAMBRA

The main reason Peter Obi’s new government is considered unpopular remains the unpopular vote count (only about 15% of the registered voters) that elected him into office. The spirit of rest (85%) disenfranchised is daunting and hunting him. 

Many believe PDP and members also contributed considerably to this. It all started with Ogbulafor-induced imposition of Professor Soludo as the PDP candidate, resulting in many primary contestants going different directions. The Honourable Minister of Information, Professor Dora Akunyili allegedly also lent a destructive helping and unseen hand. There were also the uncomplimentary widely-reported remarks against the benefit of the party and its candidate (Professor Soludo) by other PDP chieftains, namely Chief Don Etiebet, Governor Godswill Akpabio and Senator Annie Okonkwo.

Others contributors to the Obi’s new unpopular election were government controlled agents’ actions like posting of security agents (Police, Army, SSS, etc) from many parts of the country to Anambra; you can imagine where a State (Akwa Ibom) ‘donated’ 2000 policemen for the Anambra gubernatorial election. The presence of the intimidating number of security agents were scared the disenfranchised registered voters who could not complain openly for fear of being ‘dealt with’. The conduct of Iwu-led INEC that ensured majority did not cast their votes, is a serious flaw.

The mass deployment of security forces from other parts of the country is an indication of what to expect in the 2011 election. It is pertinent to note that there is no way the federal government would get enough security agents to deploy in any particular State as in the case of Anamrba since almost the rest States would be involved in the elections simultaneously.

Nevertheless Governor Obi continues to govern in good and bad ways, but all hopes are not lost as the matter is at the Election Tribunal. Many have guessed that what Obi achieved on Ngige regarding the 2003 elections is most likely to be what Ngige achieve on him (Obi), this time around.

Chief Kenneth Holmes, Okigwe Road, Owerri, Imo State.