Simmering Issues In Senate Re-run Elections

Heavyweights Battle For Benue South, Abia North, Anambra Central
Rerun elections have set the polity abuzz. The outcomes of election petitions have made the 2015 general election an unfinished business. Nerves are jarred in certain senatorial districts and it is not yet settled that there would not be a rerun governorship until the Supreme Court discards the governorship files on its table.

Of all the senatorial zones where the Court of Appeal ordered repeat elections, Benue South stands out. That is the senatorial seat of former President of Senate, David Alechenu Mark. He is being challenged by little known Daniel Onjeh, on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC). The popular sentiment in Idoma land, consisting of nine local government councils, is that Comrade Daniel Onjeh is being sponsored by entrenched political interests that do not want the Idomas to gain prominence in Benue and national politics.

The Guardian gathered that the 2019 governorship of the state is part of the reason his political rivals, especially those from the Tiv ethnic stock want to disgrace and dismantle the former president of senate. APC chieftains who were Mark’s former contemporaries in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor George Akume and former national chairman of the party, Senator Barnabas Gemade, have pulled their weights behind Onjeh.

A source from Idoma said that the two prominent Tiv politicians began moves to “cut Mark to size” when words started making the rounds that in the event of removal of Senator Bukola Saraki as president of senate, that Mark could be propped up to take the position he occupied for two terms under the PDP federal government. “So the gang up against Senator Mark is partly because of senate presidency where Akume is favoured by his party. Another reason is that the issue of powershift would gain momentum in 2019 and it is known that Mark would play a dominant role in mobilizing Idoma people to support their own instead of a puppet,” the source hinted.

Meanwhile, the opening for the rerun poll has let loose a lot of intrigues, over which parties to participate in the election. To make matters worse, the APC candidate in the senatorial election, Dr. Chris Ngige, has withdrawn from the race. Noticing that opportunity, Ekwunife defected to APC. And as she steadied herself to clinch the ticket, the former interim national woman leader of the party, Barrister Sharon Olive Ikeazor, indicated her interest in the vacant senatorial ticket. To settle matters for the two amazons, APC scheduled a primary contest. The propriety of holding a primary election became a new subject for inter-party altercation

Ohuabunwa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed February 13, 2016 for the rerun election into the Benue South Senatorial district. Both Mark and Onjeh, have been taking their campaigns to the nooks and crannies of the nine local government councils of Idoma land. Supporters of the former president of senate have been urging voters in the zone not to allow outsiders disgrace their son in the forthcoming rerun election. In fact, the heat being generated by the fervor of the campaigns exceeds that of the presidential election.

Mark has been playing dominant roles in the state for his Idoma people. And what is going for him is his passion in the agitation for the creation of Apa State even while he served as President of the Senate. By February 13, 2016 it would be seen whether Idoma voters will reciprocate his service for them or retire him from politics with an ignominious defeat by a minion Onjeh and his tribe of offshore godfathers.

In Abia North, former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu is fighting murky with Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, who was sacked by the Court of Appeal in a petition filed by the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Dr. David Onuoha-Bourdex.

Recently while reacting to the Appeal Court ruling that sacked him from the Senate, Ohuabunwa urged Kalu to forget about the appeal he filed challenging the competence of the corruption charges of alleged N5.6 billion brought against him, Kalu, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and return the money. Ohuabunwa alleged that Kalu was seeking a senate seat to run away from responsibility over the EFCC matter, pointing out that instead of wasting time campaigning to be senator, he should face his trial. The Supreme Court has fixed March 18, 2016 to deliver judgment on the appeal filed by Kalu praying the Apex court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the charges leveled against him by the EFCC.

Smarting from his ouster from the Senate, Ohuabunwa declared that Kalu’s appeal would not give him reprieve, stressing that “equity does not come to desperate politicians like him, who he said parades with dirty hands.”
Ohuabunwa said that Kalu was unelectable on account of his pending corruption charges, adding that his (Kalu’s) appeal against the Appeal Court judgment is a ploy to buy time. His words: “If he wins, he will be using our people’s constituency allowances to pay back. I’m very much happy that he is the one begging for clemency, and which shows that he is responsible for it. EFCC is never an arm of any political Party. It is a transparent entity, and it has confirmed it to all Abians even before this very election.”

The erstwhile senator said he would prefer his opponent from APGA to emerge as winner if he fails in his ambition to Kalu as his replacement in the senate.

Kalu, who has accused Ohuabunwa of dragging his name to the mud, has been fighting back saying that Ohuabunwa was an imposition by Senator T. A. Orji to destabilize Abia North Senatorial zone. As the two candidates continue their verbal warfare, their supporters have joined in railing insults across.

Ifeanyichukwu E. Uke, in a statement disclosed how Kalu “single handedly delivered the Abia State gubernatorial seat to the man that took over from him who was chilling in the Kirikiri cell” pointing out that Ohuabunwa was a neophyte without reach to play national politics.  Uke added: “OUK has paid his national dues to the point that he does not need clearance or protocol to access the president or the senate president. This is the type of clout that his Abia North constituency needs to be able to enjoy the dividends of our collective national cake.” He noted that through his fluency in major Nigerian languages, Kalu “is three steps deeper and apart from his opponents.”

Former APGA National chairman, Umeh

But in a fitting response, PDP chieftain and Ohuabunwa’s ally, Nwosu Ibe, stated “Orji Uzor Kalu wants the senate seat to continue the political warfare with Ochendo in the senate.” Ibe pointed out that the people of Abia North rejected Kalu during the election, stressing that “our people were focused on two different candidates, Ohuabunwa, who represented Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency in the House of Representatives in 2003 and Onuoha-Bourdex, a telecom and development expert, who pioneered gsm services in Aba.”

In a statement, Ibe described as a big surprise “the recent posturing by Orji Uzor Kalu, using every opportunity to create the impression that he won the election.” His words: “Truth be told, Kalu deserved the third place he got in the election because he was not in contention. Many things counted against his chances in the election. His Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA,) was not on ground. Kalu was not reckoned as fit candidate to represent Abia North in the senate. Most people believe that Kalu is confused as to how to occupy his idle time.

“After leaving Abia State Government House, Kalu desired to be president of Nigeria. When that wild goose chase failed, he campaigned to be Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). When the position of President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), became vacant, Kalu wanted to be NFF president. After trying to rejoin PDP, Kalu hurriedly stood for the March 28, Abia North senatorial election on PPA platform.

“Just last month, Kalu’s joke of becoming president of Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) went with the air as it came. Who knows, soon, Kalu may also contest for chairman of Ariara Traders Association.”

The situation in Anambra Central is full of complexities. As at the time the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division nullified the election of Senator Uche Ekwunife on December 7, 2015; there were a plethora of litigations over the PDP senatorial primaries that held in the state. As at the time the primary election was due, there were two factions of the party in Anambra. While Ekwunife emerged from the Prince Ken Emeakayi faction, Senator Annie Okonkwo, emerged on the platform of the Ejike Oguebego faction.

Shortly before the March 28, 2015 National Assembly election, the Oguebego faction went to court challenging INEC on the propriety of publishing the names of the candidates of the Emeakayi faction, when it had earlier accepted Oguebego as the authentic state chairman of the party.

While the case lingered at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the election held and Ekwunife was returned as winner. But after the Anambra National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka, on October 9, 2015 dismissed the petition filed by the senatorial candidate of APGA in the election, Chief Victor Umeh, Umeh approached the Court of Appeal. He prayed the Court to declare him winner or in the alternative nullify the election on the grounds that Ekwunife was not properly nominated.

The Appeal Court in a judgment delivered by Justice A. D. Yahaya; that has been made nonsense of by the Supreme Court judgment; nullified Ekwunife’s election and ordered INEC to conduct a repeat election within 90 days. It will be 60 days on February 7, 2016 from the date the judgment was delivered. INEC is yet to fix a date for the election.

Meanwhile, the opening for the rerun poll has let loose a lot of intrigues, over which parties to participate in the election. To make matters worse, the APC candidate in the senatorial election, Dr. Chris Ngige, has withdrawn from the race. Noticing that opportunity, Ekwunife defected to APC. And as she steadied herself to clinch the ticket, the former interim national woman leader of the party, Barrister Sharon Olive Ikeazor, indicated her interest in the vacant senatorial ticket.

To settle matters for the two amazons, APC scheduled a primary contest. The propriety of holding a primary election became a new subject for inter-party altercation. Candidate of Oguebego faction of PDP, Senator Annie Okonkwo, cried out that the APC was contravening the INEC guidelines on the senatorial election, pointing out that since the time for nomination had elapsed for the withdrawal of its original candidate, APC should excuse itself from the rerun.

Ekwunife

Yet within the Emeakayi faction, Ekwunife’s sudden defection created a vacancy, which the party planned to fill to participate in the rerun election. As PDP scouts for possible replacement for Ekwunife, new alliances began to build. When stakeholders rejected overtures to draft the immediate past Aviation minister, Mr. Osita Chidoka, into the contest, former governor Peter Obi, became a prospect.

Intriguingly, Obi was a major backer of Ekwunife. And in the ensuing realignment, Ekwunife has gone to Ngige for a lifeline. The political situation in Anambra Central Senatorial becomes tense and thrilling. While Ngige sided with Ekwunife to clinch the APC senatorial ticket, the national leadership of the party had set up a screening committee to look at the issues.

In their report after the screening, Ekwunife was denied clearance on the grounds of her penchant to change parties like handkerchief. In fact the screening committee was said to have told the former chairman of the Senate Committee on Downstream Petroleum sector, that “party politics is not a monkey business where you can jump from one tree to another.” The committee recommended Barrister Ikeazor to fly the party’s flag on account of her pedigree, loyalty and excellent performance during the screening. The screening committee’s report was later upheld by an appeal committee.

Attempts to hold the primary pitted the electoral committee against the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, over the fate of Ekwunife. While the committee was served with the report of the screening committee that declined to clear the erstwhile senator, supporters of Ngige wanted the report overruled. They insisted that having been admitted into the party, Ekwunife should take part in the primary.

Contending that the senator, who was sacked by the Court of Appeal for improper nomination, should not have been given the nomination if she was not qualified for the election, Ngige stressed that as a party given to democratic ideals, APC should allow Ekwunife to face party members at the primary election.

The screening committee had declared that it would not be in the long term interest of the party to allow her compete in the primary less than one month after joining.

In the report signed by Mr. Osita Okechukwu, (Chairman); Alhaji Garba Umar, (Secretary); Barrister Abdullahi Aliyu; Mrs. Bunmi Oririowo and Lady Mary Aipoh, the screening committee noted that Ekwunife appeared “more or less a fair-weather-hen”, adding that her antecedent contravenes Section 4(3) of the 2014 Guideline for Nomination of Candidate for Public Office.

While remarking that “caution is valour”, the committee disclosed that “to aid the committee in its assignment, a score board analysis” of the following parameters was made, pointing out that members scored all aspirants on the following basis: “BioData/Education, (20 Points); Experience (Public/Private)(20); Integrity and personal Character, (40) and Party Loyalty and Support, (20 Points).

The screening committee noted that scoring independently; members scored the aspirant (Ekwunife) below the pass mark of 51 noting that she is also barely two weeks old in the party.

Consequently, denying her clearance, the committee stated: “Most importantly, our deep concern is her record which showed that she dumps political parties at will, leaving the parties in its wake factionalized – from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), back to PDP or vice versa and now to APC.

“In conclusion, we recommend Ikeazor Sharon Olive for nomination as the candidate of our great party for Anambra State Central Senatorial District; her trajectory shows loyalty, perseverance and consistency to the emergence of our progressive party. It is our considered view that she fulfilled Section 4 of 2014 Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates for Public Office and all relevant sections of the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

But supporters of Ngige, who thronged the Olive Montagne Hotel, venue of the planned primary suddenly went wild, saying “our leader says there should be no primary without Ekwunife”, thereby ensuring that the exercise did not hold.
The Guardian gathered that the Southeast caucus has been divided over the Anambra Central senatorial primary, as the National Organising Secretary of the party, Osita Izunaso, was said to be siding with the minister of Labour, to override the screening committee’s recommendations.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party is expected to harmonise positions and come up with a final decision even as sources within the party headquarters confided in The Guardian that the outcome would not be different from the conclusions of the screening committee and that Ikeazor would fly the party’s flag in the senatorial rerun.

“Before 12 noon tomorrow (Monday) the name of the candidate to substitute Ngige in the senatorial rerun would have been submitted to INEC (the Independent national Electoral Committee). It does not look as if petitions against the committee’s report would change anything,” the source hinted.

But sensing that her ambition to return to the senate is heading for the rocks, Ekwunife seems to have thrown in the towel so as to “fight another day”. In a statement, she advised her supporters to be calm saying that having come into APC she would abide by the decision of the party as a loyal member. And noting that Ngige is no longer inclined to contesting the governorship; the former senator sets her eyes again on the governorship seat of the state on the platform of APC. At least with the new alignment with Ngige, she believes that she can make things happen as governorship candidate while she supports Barrister Ikeazor for the senate seat, perhaps to pay her former allies, Umeh and Obi, in their own coins.

On January 29, 2016 the Supreme Court would deliver its judgment on the appeal filed by the Oguebego group, which has senator Annie Okonkwo, as its senatorial candidate. Only then would the true picture of what to expect in the Anambra Central Senatorial rerun be seen. For now, the rerun election has given a clue to how complicated the governorship election in 2017 may be.