BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA
As the 2015 general elections beckons, the entire country comes alive with political activities ranging from party defections and cross-carpeting, declaration of interest , consultations and politically-induced meetings, purchase of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms as well as a host of other numerous activities typical of election season.
In Anambra State for instance the political atmosphere is not different as political engineering gradually snowball into its crescendo following the conduct of state congresses by some political parties while others pre-occupy themselves with sale , issuance and collection of completed forms. To this end , the State Headquarters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance Awka has witnessed a steady stream flow of incumbents and aspirants trooping in and out of APGA Secretariat in Awka to either submit completed forms or obtain forms to qualify for the 2015 electoral contest . Journalists were also on hand at the APGA head office to elicit opinions of the aspirants on why they are participating in the forthcoming general elections .
The first to aspirant to pick his nomination and expression of Interest forms with the registration number 002 seeking to represent Anambra South Senatorial district if elected in 2015 was Chief Maja Umeh (Akwoaka n’anya Amichi), a stauch APGA leader in the state and the former Commissioner for information culture and tourism Anambra State.
Speaking to journalists shortly after Submitting his purchased Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms at the APGA Secretariat Awka that his decision to partake in the 2015 electoral contest was informed by his burning desire to deliver quality representation to the people of his constituency if he scaled through the rigours and huddles of the elections next Year. He also urged the good people of Anambra South Senatorial Zone to adhere to the resolution reached at Ekwuluobia that only true APGA members would be allowed to
fly the party flag and not migrants.
Sen. Alphonsus Ubanese Igbeke; Hon. Dubem Obaze former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters both jostling for ticket to represent Anambra North Senatorial Zone were also on ground to submit their purchased nomination and expression of Interest forms.
As for Hon Barr. Mrs Rita Maduagwu member representing Nnewi South II at the Anambra State House of Assembly who spoke to newsmen shortly after Submitting her forms said she was going back to the House to consolidate on her developmental projects noting that her constituents endorsed her re-election Bid.
Also in line to take Njikoka /Anaocha /Dunukofia federal constituency to the next level if elected was Mr. Dozie Nwankwo, he indeed observed that there was a dire need to compliment the developmental efforts of Dr.Willie Obiano through a harmonious working relationship .Mr. Nwankwo a grassroots oriented politician whose zeal to serve his people was crystal clear , further disclosed that his community , Enugwu-Ukwu has over 30 , 000 registered voters which to him was an added advantage to his chances to triumph in the elections . He was more emphatic that if elected to represent his federal constituency at the National Assembly his first assignment would be to prevail on the federal government to tackle environmental devastations in the area stressing that somebody has to give a voice to the numerous needs of the constituency.
Furthermore a 2-time member of the Federal House of Representatives and Ex-Deputy Governor of Anambra State under Dr.Chris Ngige’s administration Mr.Okey Udeh , now aspiring to represent Anambra-South Senatorial Zone at the Senate if elected in 2015 , says he was propelled to pick the forms so as to offer himself for quality service as well as emancipation of his people in the zone.The ex-member of the National Assembly was however emphatic when he told journalists that as a community builder he would persistently prevail on the government of the federation to proactively respond to the ecological and infrastructural needs of the people of Anambra-South Senatorial District .
In the same vein, Hon.Chinedu Eluemunoh who currently seeks to represent Oyi and Ayamelum Federal Constituency if given the mandate in 2015 , said while entertaining questions from newsmen at the APGA head office Awka that he chose the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance to pursue his political ambition because APGA according to him is the mouthpiece of the ordinary igboman.Eluemunoh posited that political offices are not dictated by individual aspiration but by what the people want. He therefore emphasized that as a former member of the Federal House of Representatives he has been able to institutionalise federal govern
ment presence in all the communities in Oyi and Ayamelum Federal Constituency .
The ex-national assembly man stated that in his tenure constituency funds were deployed judiciously which according to him resulted in the building of hospitals , provision of portable drinking water , construction and rehabilitation of rural roads to mention just a few in all the communities comprising Oyi and Ayamelum Federal Constituency adding more and more dividends of democracy will come to his people when he returns to the lower chamber of the national assembly in 2015 .
Another aspirant who apparently dismissed other contenders from Aguata ll constituency especially one Mr. Ugochukwu Okaforuzu who he said was not an APGA member and therefore, portends no danger to his onerous tasks of returning to the State House of Assembly to continue with his people oriented projects was Hon lkemefuna Uzoezie.
Addressing journalists shortly after Submitting his obtained Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms Hon. Uzoezie said he was in the race again to finish the good job he had started and also to ensure that entire people of Aguata ll State Constituency enjoy adequate representation in the Anambra State House of Assembly.
He was of the opinion that if re-elected he would continue to complement the efforts of the State government and as well evenly distribute Democracy Dividends.
Moreso, the former managing Director of ASWAMA, Mrs Njideka Oraedum(Sanitation specialist) who aspires to represent Anaocha 1State Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly if elected in 2015 would ensure quality representation even as she decried the fact that in the last 3 years the people of the constituency have not really felt the impact of governmental representation at the state house of assembly Awka which according to her was the real reason behind her quest to salvage the situation in Anaocha 1State Constituency .
Also at the APGA Secretariat Awka to purchase and submit his Expression of Interest and nomination forms was comrade Chike Otikpa who was seeking to represent Anaocha 11 State Constituency told journalists that Anaocha ll constituency required effective and result-oriented representation which he said he was determined to offer if he obtains the mandate and verdict of his people to represent them at the state house of assembly in 2015 .Prior to venturing into politics , the aspirant further explained that he has been involved in the delivery of community and humanitarian services in Anaocha ll in the last 30 years with emphasis humanitarian governance where he single-handedly championed the cause on the widowers, widows and also the Youths in Anaocha alongside other community development projects which he noted had endeared him to the grass roots in Anaocha ll State Constituency .
On the other hand , Barr.Ifeanyi Chudi Muoma a native of Okija community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State who joined the retinue of aspirants to submit his nomination form at the APGA headquarters Awka said his motivation to represent Ihiala Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives stems from the fact that he is resolute and determined to effect dynamic change long awaited in Ihiala Federal Constituency.Barr.Muoma observed that there are daunting gaps in education, portable water, vocational training and a host of other gaps to be bridged in order to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Ihiala Federal Constituency.The legal practitioner who also works with the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme of the Federal Government ( SURE-P ) Abuja , said aside politics, he has H instrumental to many youths in Ihiala getting SURE-P jobs and other vocational training programmes of the scheme.
Mr. Onyemaobi Ochiagha Chuks a Lagos -based legal practitioner currently seeking to represent the people of Aguata Federal constituency said he had to put his legal profession on hold so as to rescue his people from what he termed poor representation.
Addressing journalists at the APGA State Party House Barr. Ochiagha was resolute in addressing infrastructural needs like road construction , rural electrification and a host of others dividends if elected in 2015 .
Barr. Uchenna Okonkwo Okom the former Chief whip of the Anambra State House of Assembly, was another aspirant for Orumba-North and South Federal Constituency who says the likes of Dr.Hygers Igwebuike and some others nursing the aspiration to represent the aforementioned federal constituency at the national assembly come 2015 is no threat to him at all . Okonkwo who made his standpoint public on next year’s general election maintained that his pre-occupation is to ensure that democracy dividends trickled down to the grass roots as well as elimination of elitism in the representation of Orumba-North and South Federal Constituency .
The former Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress who told journalists also that he decided to pitch in with the All Progressive Grand Alliance because he believed that APGA is committed to the service of the people.Okonkwo maintained that if elected into office next year , he would draw the attention of the federal government to issues of marginalization of Orumba-North and South Federal Constituency from the polity. He therefore observed that the constituency was not connected to the national grid and electricity supply has become a far cry in the area adding that the absence of federal roads was another pressing problem in the area as the only federal road the constituency has is the one that connects it to Imo State which according to him is a serious infrastructural challenge to Orumba-North and South Federal Constituency.
