From Maurice Okafor,Enugu.
Based on the results of Saturday,February 25,Presidential and National assembly elections,the Labour party has upturned the political dominance of PDP in Enugu state since the return of civilian rule in 1999.
The PDP had always won all the elective positions in the state, but fron all indications the power equation wilL change from the next dispensation which begins fr6 MAY 29,as seven of the eight federal lawmakers that will be representing the state at Abuja are elected on the platform of labour party and one from PDP. Labour party also produced the next senator of Enugu North senatorial district in the person of Barr Okey Ezea, just as PDP produced the in coming senator of Enugu West senatorial district, in the person of Engr. Osita Ngwu. The contest for the next senator of Enugu East senatorial district was resheduled by INEC to hold along the Governorship and house of assembly elections due to the ugly incidence of murder of the Labour party initial candidate for the contest, late Barr Oyibo Chukwu, by yet to be identified gun men.
The success recorded by Labour party in the February 25 elections is what is currently generating tension in Enugu state whether Labour party wiLL maintain it’s winning streak or the PDP will make up for it’s initial loss.
Many pundits hold the view that the Enugu state governorship will be a tough battle between Dr Peter Mbah of PDP and Barr Chijioke Edeoga of Labour party, though they are not undermining the possibility of Chief Uche Nnaji of APC and Mr Frank Nweke with APGA ticket pulling suprises in the election.
They argued that the character, competence and previous achievements of the top two will be the determining factor to influence the electorates pattern of voting,not neccessarily the party each of them belongs to,since four of the leading 2ndidates have campaigned vigorously before the electorates.
Dr Mathias Ikenze, a political scientist said,’It is an illusion for any body to believe that the pattern of voting during the presidential election especially in the South East zone will be repeated in the governorship and state assembly elections.The passion for Mr Peter Obi to emerge as president of Nigeria was the major focus of our people, but this time around the electorates are thinking outside the box to vote for people with proven integrity and capabilitty t6 run the affairs of Enugu state. I am giving every assurance that the Pinnacle Oil and Gas boss will turn around the economy of Enugu state, if voted into power’.
In his own view,Surveyor Anayo Okolo,said that Barr Chijioke Edeoga is more experienced and down to earth in goteqnment business to pilot the affairs of Enugu state among the four major candidates. He admitted that the contest will be decided betweem Dr Peter Nbah and Barr Edeoga,insisting that the Obedient movement is a mechanism and added advantage for Edeoga.
He argued that the dynamism in politics enabled PDP to have held sway in Enugu state but Labour party has come to offer a new dawn and the electorates quickly embraced labour party.
Checks revealed that the ‘Obedient movement’cropped up in support of Mr Peter Obi to emerge as the next civilian president of the country,an ideology accepted across the borders of the South East zone,irrespective of party of affiliation became the view of many well wishers including many PDP stalwarts in Enugu state informed the quest for Labour party,hoping it will stop at the Presidential election. That is to say that after voting Mr Peter Obi for president, the electorates would revert to their usual tradition of voting for PDP candidates in the other elective positions.
The above strategy was a disaster for PDP as most of the electorates cast their votes outrightly for candidates of Labour party,whether known or unknown to them.
