As countdown to the 2023 general election continues, Nigerians and indeed Abians are of the expectation that the poll will usher in a new crop of leaders to pilot the affairs of the nation and the State.
Nigerians are upbeat about the 2023 general elections especially with the signing into law of the Electoral Act by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Act has eliminated several flaws in the electoral system including the obnoxious Incident Form, which politicians manipulated to their advantage by writing dubious results.
In the 2023, however, INEC has promised to deploy the BIVAS and I REV machines for the electronic transmission of results from the polling units to its portal. Some politicians, who are not too comfortable with the latest decision, have at different forums, questioned INEC’s ability to conduct a credible election.
For the presidential election, a four-horse race has emerged with the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, in the lead on several opinion polls conducted so far. He is ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar, while the candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, maintains the 4th position.
A recent poll conducted by the former chairman of Stanbic IBTC, Mr. Atedo Peterside’s ANAP Foundation gave victory to Mr. Peter Obi. The poll equally put Obi second behind APC’s Tinubu in the South West region.
Governorship outlook
Similarly, several opinion polls conducted in Abia State put the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Dr. Alex Otti, in the pole position.
A recent poll also conducted by ANAP Foundation, which had in 2019, predicted the victory of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, gave the LP candidate 30% with the candidate of the PDP, Prof Uche Ikonne scoring 8%.
Dr. Otti, who contested the 2015 and 2019 polls on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), seems to be the candidate to beat.
In 2015, the election was acclaimed to have been won by Otti. In fact, he won nine out of the 17 LGAs of Abia State, while Ikpeazu won eight.
However, the controversial result from Obingwa LGA aka ‘Obingwa magic’ somehow, swung victory in Ikpeazu’s favour.
Otti approached the tribunal; won at the appeal court but lost at the Supreme Court.
Other Aro candidates in the governorship race include a former Chairman of Arochukwu LGA, Hon. Chibuike Jonas of the ADP; Nma Lancaster Okoro of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Bond Ohuche of the AAC.
Abia North senatorial outlook
Aside Otti and other governorship candidates, Aro interest in the 2023 elections also revolves around the ambitions of the following persons:
Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, the PDP senatorial candidate for Abia North.
He will slug it out with Barr Carol Dike Okorafor, another Aro candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).
Both candidates will do battle with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Chief Whip of the Senate and incumbent senator of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Chief Nnamdi Iro Oji (Opotoyom) of the Labour Party and others.
The senatorial election, no doubt, will be keenly contested by all the candidates on the ballot.
House of Reps contest
Hon. Uko Nkole of the PDP, who currently represents Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, will not be returning to the hallowed chamber. A two term member of the House, Nkole’s party zoned its ticket to Ohafia LGA as part of its agreement of two terms for each LGA.
The House of Reps seat will therefore be contested by Dr. Dan Chimezie Okeke (Mezie Abia) of the APC, Dr. Obinna Okuji Oreh of APGA, Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu and Ibe Okwara Osonwa of the Labour Party.
State Assembly contest
For the State House of Assembly, the Minority Whip of the House, Hon. Mike Ukoha, will fly the flag of the APC; Collins Smith is of the YPP, Nnaemeka Oti is of the APP, while Enyinnaya Onwumere is of the ADP.
The House of Assembly seat seems to be the most contested position. Aside the four candidates from Arochukwu, Abam also has about four candidates vying for the same position.
The candidates include Dr. Sam Okorie of the Accord Party (AP), Ike Okorafor of APGA, Uchenna Kalu Okoro of the Labour Party amongst others.
INEC factor
No doubt, the 2023 general election promises to be interesting as Nigerians look up to INEC with great expectations to deliver a free, fair and credible election.
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