2023 in perspectives: The great lesson of 2021 Anambra State guber polls – Importance of fielding winsome candidate as party flagbearer By Chukwuma ShaFT AMaram (Polemics).

There are many useful, politically relevant, strategic lessons, dripping down from the November 6, 2021, Anambra State guber polls won by Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

From the perspectives of strategic considerations, some, amongst these vital lessons, are weightier, more important, more impactful, and more outstanding, than others.

This is especially, in terms of ultimate success or failure, experienced by candidates and political parties, as key stakeholders and participants, in the 2021 Anambra electoral exercise.

This discourse, specifically, as post mortem analysis, and stocktaking of these critical fallouts, is designed to highlight some of the important lessons.

In addition, the article serves the important purpose of introspective or retrospective guide; geared towards effective preparations by political parties in the South East geopolitical zone, for the conduct of, or participation in, the 2023 general elections.

Data and statistics released by INEC show the winner of the polls, as Professor Soludo. Based on hindsight, Soludo of APGA won the polls, chiefly because, he was the best qualified candidate.

If the polls were to be (re) conducted or repeated, over, and over, ten or more times, under credible, free, fair, transparent atmospheres, there exist strong indicators that Soludo would always emerge winner.

But, why?
Because, Soludo possesses, in terms of credentials and vital leadership assets or qualities, what the great people of Anambra State value and desire in a leader, in the context of the sensitive and highly esteemed governorship office.

Even, Professor Soludo, in the perceptions and opinions of many people, comes across as over-qualified, for the governorship position, in the Nigerian context.

Given the generally low standards, less-than-desirable credentials on parade, associated with majority of states and national leaders, the matter becomes quite clear, that Soludo is eminently over-credentialed for the contest.

Ideally, in normal circumstances, our Soludos, are meant to be at the top of the national leadership pyramid, if Nigeria, is properly designed to function effectively. But, sadly enough, this is not the case, but the exact contrast or opposite presently.

Hypothetically, be it presumed herein theoretically, based on mere speculative purposes or assumptions, Soludo, presumably was “removed” from the list of contestants in 2021 Anambra State governorship polls and other equations.

The critical issue theoretically, accordingly, is, who else, would have been the alternative or preferred candidate of choice, as the best, from the stables of the political parties?

In my opinion, and opinions of many voters, as evidently expressed in the numbers and patterns of voting, Valentine Ozigbo, ebullient, confident, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer, emerges and looms formidable in the mindsets and choices of the voting populace, theoretically.

Statistical data of votes cast showed Ozigbo garnered sizeable, second highest number of votes, and trailed behind Soludo.

From this vital statistics and inference, it’s admissible and understandable, if Soludo, didn’t contest the polls as APGA candidate, for whatever reasons imaginable, it was evidently or unquestionably clear by extrapolation, that voters most likely, would have chosen Ozigbo, as the preferred candidate, to govern Anambra State.

The critical question, to resolve logically, would be, why, Ozigbo?

Straight forward answer: comparatively, Ozigbo, in many significant aspects, has similar credentials, in relatively good proportion, favourably compared to what Soludo is generally known. Ozigbo, comes across generally as Soludo’s replica, though in less spectacular magnitude and style.

Significantly, in terms qualitative academic, intellectual achievements, excellence, and other related exploits, Ozigbo, stands out impeccably from the rest of the contestants.

In terms of great ideas, ideals, manifesto, visionary blueprints, impressive programs, designed for robust development of the State, Ozigbo creditably distinguished himself.

In terms of pre-election public debates, campaigns rallies, and a host of critical political engagements, Ozigbo held his grounds effectively and tenaciously.

Thus, Ozigbo, was no easy pushover, by all standards. Even Soludo, would readily concede these facts.

From holistic, strategic perspectives, in the recently concluded 2021 Anambra State polls, two dominant political parties, namely, APGA and PDP, fielded and presented two highly favoured, formidable, electoral winsome candidates, Soludo, and Ozigbo, respectively.

The leaderships hierarchies of the two parties, specifically, at the State level, worked particularly hard to put in place good arrangements, processes, procedures, and structures, that allowed without let or hinderance, the emergence of the best political materials or candidates, in the parties’ intraparty primaries.

What was the ultimate aim or objective, designed to achieve? To clinch the governorship position in the multiparty electoral contests of November 6.

The leaderships of the two parties, specifically, and other key stakeholders, never fooled themselves in believing, if the parties fielded uninspiring candidates, the governorship stool and office, could be secured by resorting to other means of politically engineered ruse or electoral stratagem, as viable avenue; as was unfortunately the case in governorship contests in one of the neighboring South East states, in 2019.

This proactive sense of adequate and effective preparation, in terms of presentation of eminently qualified candidates, by APGA and PDP, essentially was the only viable trump cards in the parties’ arsenals. The voting patterns and statistics supported these assertions, vigorously.

Accordingly, in the wider contexts and perspectives of the South East politics, come 2023, important, strategic lessons, have already been crystallized and distilled, for the benefit of political parties in general.

The critical or vital lessons distilled distinctively from the 2021 Anambra polls, clearly pose major challenges to the parties, but demonstrate the importance or significance, of political parties, particularly APGA, and PDP, resolving to present the best candidates from their respective stables; with the core intents not simply to win the polls but more importantly, to provide high level of qualitative leadership in office and in governance.

This represents the critical or true essence of astute and effective intraparty political leadership, and statesmanship.

The leaderships of political parties, particularly in the South East have much to gain from the adoption of electoral winsome candidates, strategies, or strategic principles, effectively deployed by APGA and PDP in the Anambra State polls.

In this particular context, the 2021 Anambra polls, clearly proved beyond any doubts, that the electoral fortunes or misfortunes of parties in polls, are intrinsically tied to the calibre and quality of candidates presented.

To win elections in 2023, for example, Abia State PDP chapter, under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Asiforo and his EXCO, by all means, must jettison, or resist strongly any ideas or tendencies designed towards imposition of candidates from any quarters.

Likewise, cleverly designed manipulations to favour especially unpopular candidates with questionable electoral values, based on the perceptions, perspectives, and suspicions of the voters, must be equally, totally discarded.

Specifically, credible avenues for the emergence of the party flagbearer, in the overtly sensitive position of governorship, must not be compromised.

Disastrous failure at the polls await any party that fields incompetent candidates, irrespective of political godfatherism syndrome and sponsorship.

Why are these vital lessons from Anambra State beneficial in the context of Abia State or any other South East state?

Essentially because voters are now more sophisticated in reasoning; wiser in thinking; eager to change the negative narratives; readily compare notes with what are obtainable in other states, especially in the South East; particularly in the context of stymied developmental indicators and indices compared to other neighbouring states.

Indeed, voters in 2023, are desirous of voting only for well-credentialed candidates, irrespective of political party affiliations or platforms.

Provided the candidates can be compared, or likened, to the status of Professor Soludo, Governor-Elect of Anambra State. Particularly in terms of possessing what it takes to build effectively on already existing foundations and subsisting structures with the visionary focus to make Abia better and greater.

The Abia number one citizen, the Governor, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, equally has much work to do, in this important regard.

The Governor’s core political agendas or interests and concerns, in the march towards 2023, revolves essentially on the need to identify and support any winsome, credible, suitable candidate, to fly confidently the PDP flag in the 2023 governorship polls.

Of course, the only thing that counts or matters, is the strategic political intent to secure, and retain the governorship position for PDP.

Otherwise, any other kinds of politically expedient decisions taken, capable of jeopardizing the objective of retaining the governorship office under the umbrella, equates to political suicide.

Under the watchful eyes of the Governor, as supreme leader of PDP, Abia State, any costly mistakes may result in the likelihood of PDP losing the highly prized jewel of the governorship position, which the party has repeatedly won, consecutively, since the 1998 general elections.

Such visible spectacles, associated with defeats or losses in electoral contests, are not really far-fetched, or improbable, if PDP fails to do the needful, by failing consciously or strategically in protecting her political interests in Abia State in 2023.

How, may this ugly prospect be possible or realizable?

Ostensibly, by not picking the best candidate as the party’s flagbearer, either by direct or indirect primary elections processes.

What worked perfectly in the past for PDP cannot be guaranteed to work in 2023.

The rampant incidences of winning elections by other means, are very slim presently, especially, with widespread disenchantment among the voters, in terms of failures in governance; introduction of new electoral guidelines, particularly the introduction of sensitive technologies and devices in the electoral systems.

In the final analysis, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

In this critical regard, APC, APGA, PDP and other registered political parties operating in the South East turfs must either heed this timely but ominous warning, to avert avoidable electoral misfortunes in 2023, or decide to ignore it.

But of course, they will be ignoring the warning to their own detriment. They will be doing so at great peril and will pay a great price, politically, in 2023.