A high-stakes political showdown looms in Anambra State as tension heightens within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ahead of tomorrow’s ward and local government primaries to elect National Assembly candidates.
The party leader, Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman, and Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, previously made it clear that the Option A-4 voting mode would prevail during the exercise.
Internal fears are mounting that the governor may have abandoned the strategy to favour his preferred aspirants.
The ultimate political battleground is set for the Anambra North Senatorial Zone, where Chief Primus Odili, the former Chief of Staff to ex-governor Chief Willie Obiano, will square off against former Aviation Minister Princess Stella Oduah, among other contenders.
Currently, party members openly favour Odili, whom they view as a loyal APGA faithful, contrasting him with rivals they label as “cash-and-carry” politicians.
Another aspirant in the race is Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, who served as Soludo’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, though The Nation gathered that he lacks widespread popularity among APGA members.
Historically, Odili contested for the same position in 2023 but lost the ticket to the state’s former first lady, Mrs. Ebele Obiano.
Sources told The Nation that Primus Odili is highly regarded as a very close ally and staunch loyalist of Governor Soludo.
In Anambra Central, Hon. Dozie Nwankwo faces a highly competitive race following the entry of Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe into the contest
Simultaneously, in Anambra South, the incumbent senator, Emma Nwachukwu, is facing stiff opposition from Chief Akai Egwuonwu in his bid to secure the ticket.
One thing remains certain: the battle for the APGA tickets across Anambra North, Central, and South Senatorial Districts promises to be fierce, and Saturday’s polls will provide the final answers.
