Anambra guber: Who wins APC ticket?

As activities toward the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State gather momentum, it is becoming more difficult to predict who the cap fits among the legion of aspirants that have flooded the political space in the state. At the last count, no fewer than 60 aspirants had  declared interest for the one and  only governorship seat at the Awka Government House. But in the crowd, there is no gainsaying that only very few are really serious and indeed deserve any mention in the first place.
As it would likely turn out, every registered party in Anambra would field a candidate in the coming election. After all, there are many parties in Nigeria. Though some of the parties may not be attractive now but those who understand the dynamics of politics know that after the primaries of the more popular parties, some of the aspirants are sure going to be displaced and would seek alternative platforms to realize their ambition.
But as all these events unfold, many are patiently waiting to see how the All Progressives Congress (APC) would go into the election and the calibre of candidate it will present to contest with candidates of other parties for the hot seat. It is only stating the obvious that every party that wants to make the desired impact in the race must put its best foot forward.
In APC, the three candidates positioning to pick the ticket are:
Senator Annie Okonkwo
In APC, one candidate that strikes one is definitely Senator Annie Okonkwo who represented Anambra Central Senatorial Zone from 2007-2011. As the Deputy Chairman, South, of the APC and with his wealth of experience in politics, there is no doubt that he would be a major force to reckon with in the primaries of the party.
He is the president of the South-east political action platform known as C21. Analysts argue that his political positioning with the C21 group has given him some leverage in the forthcoming election in Anambra State. He contested the February 2010 elections for Anambra State governorship race but was one of those who lost to the incumbent, Peter Obi. Senator Okonkwo defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and his faction is the part that joined the newly registered APC.
At the Senate, Okonkwo was appointed to committees on Upstream Petroleum Resources, Police Affairs, Environment (vice-chairman) and Agriculture. While at the National Assembly, he sponsored a bill for the Federal Government to make essential commodities accessible and affordable to Nigerians, and a bill to establish the Nigerians Citizens in Diaspora Commission.
For Okonkwo, an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holder of advanced diploma in commercial law and practice from the University of Lagos, Nigeria needs a change in leadership which his party, the APC is ready to give the people.
Okonkwo’s critics say he does not have the popularity to be governor of Anambra state but many believe that though he is a man of few words but is a thoroughbred politician who knows how to endear himself to the people in any contest. The thinking in some quarters is that his political experience and robust achievements that have attracted him many laurels, nationally and internationally would count for him in the election.  He is an entrepreneur who has given thousands of people in Nigeria employment opportunities. His firms include Reliance Telecomm, Clemco Industries, Modern Communications (satellite TV Network), MacClemm Marketing Communications, Sunflower Nigeria and Pentagon Oil.  To also promote education in Anambra State, he initiated a scholarship programme through his Agunaechemba Foundation for Anambra youths to study free in any tertiary institution across the world.
So, based on this background, there is no gainsaying that he has what it takes to woo Anambra voters in the November election.
Godwin Ezeemo
Another candidate who has the pedigree to throw up surprises in the primaries of the APC is Godwin Ezeemo who is a consummate entrepreneur and philanthropist. Though many see him as relatively new in politics but those conversant with events in  Anambra would attest to the fact that he has always been there. He has been a major financier of politicians at different levels in the state.
Apart from that, what may work for him is that a reasonable percentage of Anambra voters may be more disposed to aspirants who do not belong to the old brigade. This school of thought believes that he is coming with fresh ideas and wealth of experience garnered from his long sojourn abroad.
His teeming supporters believe that the accomplished entrepreneur who left Nigeria to live in United Kingdom in 1993 aims to introduce leadership of a fresh orientation in a state that has won notoriety for political brigandage.
Political pundits are of the opinion that Ezeemo stands a good chance of picking the APC ticket once a level playing field is provided for all the aspirants. During the declaration, Ezeemo emphatically stated that he was not coming to contest Anambra gubernatorial election to embezzle money but to better the lives of the suffering masses. Many believe that his philanthropy, humility, ideas, drive, passion for betterment of the lives of the youth would work for him when the chips are down. A good number of people believe that he has a passion to alleviate the sufferings of the less privileged especially in view of  his scholarship programmes for indigent students and employment generation for the people. There are also those who believe that with his wealth of experience in entrepreneurship, there is no doubt in his ability to create convivial environment for investors and replication of what he has seen abroad in Nigeria and Anambra in particular.
Senator Chris Ngige 
There is no doubt that Senator Chris Ngige is a man to beat in the coming election. A reasonable percentage of the people believe that Ngige has a bright chance to win the primaries of the APC because of his popularity in the state. The medical doctor-turned politician joined politics and became one of the founding members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). By 1999, he was Assistant National Secretary and Zonal Secretary of PDP in the South-east region of the country.
In 2003, he was elected governor of Anambra State in controversial circumstances. However, in August 2005, an election Tribunal led by Justice Nabaruma nullified Ngige’s 2003 victory. He appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal, but the annulment was confirmed on March 15, 2006, in a judgment that awarded victory to Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). No further appeals were possible, and Ngige accepted the judgment in good faith, calling on the people of Anambra to give their total support to his successor.  Ngige’s 33 months in office were believed to have been characterised by populist programmes, especially road construction.
Even after losing the governorship seat through the law court, Ngige remains a toast of a good percentage of Anambra people. In the short time  he held sway as governor, he endeared himself to the people by establishing a paradigm shift in his leadership style.  Ngige is believed to have demystified godfathers, who allegedly made delivery of democracy dividends almost impossible to people of the state.
In 2011, Ngige went for the Anambra central senatorial election and won against former Director General of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Dora Akunyili.
In APC, Ngige would certainly be a force to reckon with in the primaries.