From Maurice Okafor, Enugu.
Ahead of May 29 dawn of a new democratic dispensation in Nigeria, It is currently unpredictable to stake the party among the four major parties namely, Peoples Democratic Party(PDP),Labour Party,All Progressive Congress(APC)and All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) that will form the next civilian government in Enugu state.
Even though PDP has been dominating the political leadership of the state since the past 24 years or thereabout, but the results of the February 25 Presidential and Natinal Assembly election at which it lost almost to the Labour party, is stirrring a new political revolution in the state. The Labour party won seven out of the eight house of Representatives seat and one senatorial seat, while PDP retained one senatorial and one house of Representative seat. The remaining Enugu East senatorial district seat will be contested along the governorship and state assembly elections,coming up on Saturday. March 11.
From all indications,the PDP in Enugu state chapter is doing all possible best to ensure it retains it’s controll of Enugu state by winning the state governorship election and if possible the 24 seats of the state assembly.
The Labour party on the other hand is leaving no stone unturned to consolidate on it’s gains at the last election by winning the state governorship election.
Understandably,still basking on the euphoria of having won the Presidential election, the APC in Enugu state is covering up it’s internal crisis for a serious stake in the state governorship election.
Against expectations that APGA will emerge with any of the above three parties,it,s governorship flag bearer, Mr Frank Nweke(jnr) recently stated in clear terms that he is in the race to win.
With less than four days to the governorship election, the candidates of the parties are still sweating it out with vigorous campaigns across various groups, market unions, Religeous groups,traditional institutions etc,pleading for their votes, re visiting targeted settlements to get their reassurance.
Checks revealed that the most fearful pressure group which the candidates are trailing with utmost care is the Catholic church. The Catholic church is the domineering and most populated Religeous denomination in Enugu state, which often shows concern to contemporary societal issues and provides a guide to the parishioners.
It was reported that the PDP governorship candidate, Dr Peter Mbah worshipped at the famous ‘Ugwudinso’prayer ground controlled by a reverred Catholic priest while Hon Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour party,worshipped at the famous ‘Adoration ministries’where the maverian Catholic priest. Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka presides.
It was gathered that the attempts to dictate and decide for worshippers on the choice of governorship candidate is generating ripples in some churches at the moment.
