The heated battle for Enugu senatorial seats

As Enugu State voters await tomorrow’s National Assembly polls, only five political parties have indicated interest to slug it out with one another, and their candidates are hell-bent on winning the three senatorial seats and the federal constituencies which make up the state. The five key political parties are the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), People for Democratic Change ( PDC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party (LP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The candidates in the struggle are not relenting and they have shown a lot of vigour in the field to test their popularity. It is believed that while some of the candidates are popular in the real sense of the word, others are merely trying to make their impact.

Expectedly, the three Senators currently representing the three senatorial zones in the state namely Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu East), Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West) and Ayogu Eze (Enugu North) are neck-deep in the contest, each having the mind-set of victory to retain their seats until the next election in 2015.

But while Senator Nnamani, who was a two-term governor of the State between 1999 and 2007 is seeking a second term at the Senate, Senator Ekweremadu, who has been Deputy Senate President since 2007 is contesting to represent Enugu West for the third term. Senator Eze, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, is aspiring to return to the senate to represent Nsukka people in Enugu North for a second term.

Nonetheless, the new comers in the contest in the three senatorial zones seem quite battle ready even though majority of them are seen as jokers. One commentator had described some of them as “unknown characters who are coming out to make noise.” But the influence of PDP in the state is a factor that cannot be dismissed easily with a wave of the hand when rating the chances of the candidates, especially when the leader of the party and the state governor, Sullivan Chime has campaigned vigorously to ensure that the party retains the three senatorial seats.

However, the PDC, the political platform adopted by the Ebeano political group led by former governor, Nnamani, has put up a strong fight principally to stop the PDP from having its way in the election. The party produced three senatorial candidates including Senator Nnamani himself and they have successfully taken their room-to-room campaign to the necessary places in the state. Thus tomorrow’s election will certainly bring out the men from the boys.

ENUGU NORTH: Senator Ayogu Eze

Obviously, Senator Eze secured the PDP nomination following the controversy that ousted the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, who was  opposed to Eze’s re-election. Though said to be popular in the zone, he has a lot of opponents to contend with. Eze’s great achievement for his constituents is the claim that he has offered federal appointments to many people. Also, he has, through his Oak of Hope Foundation, provided enormous assistance to the less privileged in the zone and beyond.

Many believe Eze’s election for another term is already an accomplished task. General J. O. J. Okoloagu (rtd), a retired Army General and practicing lawyer from Ukehe in Igbo Etiti Local Government, General Okoloagu has been in the senatorial race since 2003.

He went to the tribunal after the 2007 senatorial poll which he lost to Senator Eze but after the legal battle which went up to the Appeal Court, he failed to secure a seat. Now, he is back to the trenches and claims to be sure of victory in tomorrow’s polls under the ACN which has been his political platform since 2003. His greatest asset is that he seems to be loved by his people.

Chief Mike Ajogu (SAN)

Mike Ajogu , a legal luminary from Uzo-Uwani local government joined the senatorial race on the platform of PDP but later defected to the Labour Party as a result of the PDP crisis. He is seen as a strong contestant who could pose a serious challenge to the incumbent, especially coming from Uzo-Uwani council which has never produced a senator for Enugu North (Nsukka zone).

Engr. Victor Amoha:

People for Democratic Change, PDC

Engineer Amoha of the PDC is from Aku in Igbo Etiti council area is very credible, sound and respected among Nsukka people. He is seen as a candidate to beat among the contestants for Enugu North Senatorial seat. He is a grassroots politician and one of the leaders of Enugu State Development Association (ESDA). He is said to have the support of the political leaders from the zone and has a good chance in the election. His PDC is also popular within Nsukka zone and so he could sail to victory.

ENUGU WEST:

Popularly called Ikeoha (meaning the people’s strength) Ekeremadu has effectively utilized his position as Deputy Senate President to also impact on the entire South-east zone in terms of infrastructure and access to political offices.

He enjoys great support from his constituents having maintained regular touch with them throughout his tenure. Besides, his humility has endeared him to the people of the zone who have assured him of their support. He is a candidate to beat in Enugu West and people believe it will be a big surprise if he fails to retain his seat at the senate after tomorrow’s polls.

Prof Nick Eze of the Labour Party who hails from Enugu Inyi in Oji River Local Government Area is a Professor of Economic Development, an industrialists and a real estate developer. He is seen as a strong contender for the Enugu West senatorial seat on the platform of Labour Party.

This election is his first appearance in Enugu politics and he believes that he has all it takes to unseat the incumbent. He has repeatedly condemned the underdevelopment in the senatorial zone and vowed to attract infrastructures that would uplift the zone.

Mr. Ndubuisi Enechi Onyia of APGA is the youngest of all the contestants for Enugu Senatorial seat and has shown enough determination to clinch the seat.

He has carried out an aggressive campaign within the zone but he is generally regarded as an underdog in the race. Onyia who is a Chartered Accountant and Banker veered into politics and decided to run for the Senate. His chances in the election are very slim.

ENUGU EAST:

Senator Dr Chimaroke Nnamani is aspiring to return to the senate the second term. He is leading the opposition PDC which was adopted by his Ebeano political group to wrest power from the PDP in the state. He was elected as PDP senator in 2007 but he dumped the party and pulled his supporters to PDC  late last year. He believes that the popularity so far gained through aggressive political campaigns which he personally leads as well as the respect and influence he still commands within his Nkanu brethren in Enugu East will give him victory in tomorrow’s polls over his major opponent in PDP.

Hon. Gilbert Nnaji, very handsome but a stammerer, is of the ruling PDP and a two-term member of the House of Representatives (Enugu East/Isiuzo  Federal Constituency). He is the PDP candidate with the strong support of Governor Chime. Nnaji is a Prince and was in the House of Representative from 2003 to 2011 during which he served as Deputy Leader South East Caucus of the House. He now wants to move to the Senate.

He emerged from the controversial PDP primaries in Enugu East which was started at Agbani and completed the next day at Okpara Square, Enugu. His opponents have always used his difficulty in speech to criticise him on the ground that law making in the national assembly is not for “speechless legislators.”

Nnaji was a strong loyalist of Sen. Nnamani before they parted  ways in 2007. He declared recently that he was in the senatorial race to win and would not step down for Nnamani as being speculated in some quarters. He will definitely meet a strong resistance from Nnamani whose seat he wants to  win.

Dr. Silk Ugwuogbu (APGA), a businessman and academician is the APGA flag bearer for Enugu East and a new entrant into the senatorial race. The young politician has a strong zeal to be part of the next senate and has canvassed for the support of the electorate within the limit of his ability and resources. He has Nnamani and Nnaji to contend with and he can rightly be regarded as an underdog in the contest.Dr. Ben Nwoye of ACN is a United States-based Attorney. He returned to Nigeria recently to contest the Senatorial election. He is from Nkanu area and is rather not well-known in the politics of the state. He is working hard to have an edge over his opponents but many say the impact of his campaign in the zone is yet to be felt like those of his opponents.

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