Fides Media Living the Faith
By Ikeugonna Eleke
Since after the announcement of the last batch of results of National Assembly Election in Anambra, Friday, March 3, it became clear that all serving National Assembly lawmakers lost their seats, except Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
Two senators and all the 11 House of Representatives members in the state, failed to return.
This was mostly perceived, as the popularity of Mr Peter Obi, which rubbed off on most of the candidates of Labour Party.
A clear analysis showed that: Senators Uche Ekwunife and Stella Oduah, both of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, who represented Anambra Central and North, respectively, lost their seats to candidates of Labour Party, Senator Victor Umeh and Hon Tony Nwoye.
In Idemili North and South Federal Constituency, Hon Obinna Chidoka of PDP, an incumbent and younger brother of former minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, lost.
The younger Chidoka lost a seat he had occupied for about 12 years to a rookie politician, Mr Uchenna Okonkwo, who is a first timer and contested on the platform of Labour Party.
In Onitsha North and South Federal Constituency, Hon Lynda Ikpeazu who had for long, consolidated her grip on the area, also lost to a Labour Party candidate.
In Ogbaru, Chuchu Onyema also lost to a Labour Party candidate and a journalist, Hon Afam Ogene.
In Oyi and Ayamelum Federal Constituency, Hon Vincent Ofumelu lost his seat too. Hon Chinedu Obidigwe of Anambra East and West Federal Constituency also lost his seat, same as the representative of Dunukofia/Njikoka/Anaocha Federal Constituency, Dozie Nwankwo, who went for senate and also failed to be elected as he was beaten by Senator Victor Umeh.
In Orumba North and South, Hon Okwudili Ezenwankwo lost, just like in Aguata Federal Constituency, where the representative, Hon Chuma Umeoji, contested for a seat in the Senate and lost.
In Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituencies, Hon Chris Azubogu opted to contest for Senate and lost, while in Ihiala Federal Constituency, Hon Chudi Momah lost.
In the last Federal Constituency, Awka North and South, the incumbent failed to contest, but the seat was also taken Away from PDP, which formerly held it, as a greenhorn politician and former university teacher, Prof Lilian Orogbu, who contested on the platform of Labour Party, won.
In all, out of the three senatorial zones, Labour Party took two, leaving one for the YPP candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. So far, Ubah will be the only lawmaker from Anambra returning to the National Assembly on May 29.
Labour Party took six out of the 11 House of Representatives seats in the state, while APGA which used to have the majority seats is only left with four, while YPP was able to clinch one.
A political analyst, Damian Ugwu, who analysed the situation, said, ‘Truth is that it would have been good for us to send experienced lawmakers to Abuja because the old ones are underperforming, they just needed to be voted out, while we can start now to groom the kind of lawmakers we want to have in the future.
‘As for Ifeanyi Ubah, I will like to call him the last man standing. He has shown traces of performance, both in lawmaking, in attracting projects to his people and in philanthropy through his personal money and the people tend to like him for this. He is the only man whose Peter Obi’s popularity failed to rob of his position because the people were sure of what they wanted.’