Enugu North: Ugwuanyi faces tough battle with LP, APC

• Published date: 22 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

THE 2023 general elections in Enugu State promises to be an interesting battle of political wits as gladiators prepare for showdown across the state. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is being challenged by its archrival, the All Progressives Congress (APC) as usual on one hand, and the newly emboldened Labour Party (LP) on the other hand. Unlike in the past when pundits would easily give sweeping victories to the ruling PDP across the state, analysts are saying the two leading opposition parties are likely to spring surprises in some constituencies across the state during the general elections.

Before now, it is not out of place to describe the state, which has been governed by the PDP since 1999, as a stronghold of the party. But not a few observers of the politics of the state are of the view that some factors like the lingering zoning debates over the governorship and other positions across the state, the disagreements that trailed the primary elections of the major political parties, the emergence of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, as the presidential candidate of the LP, the crisis within the PDP at the national level, among others, will affect the outcome of the elections in Enugu state.

One of the constituencies tipped for fierce contests is Enugu North Senatorial District where incumbent governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is the PDP senatorial candidate. He had emerged candidate after months of speculations over his next political move as he is finishing his second term in office as governor. The Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District, Chukwuka Utazi, had declined to seek re-election, opting to step down for the governor. Still Ugwuanyi faced three opponents in the race to secure nomination as the PDP candidate for Enugu North senatorial district.

His candidacy is generating controversy as some say it is not the turn of his zone to produce the senator of Enugu North. But his supporters are playing down the agitations, insisting that the people of the district are eager to have the governor as their next senator in appreciation of his good works. Ahead of the senatorial election which takes place on February 25, the governor has Ambassador Ejike Eze of APC and Chief Okey Ezea of LP, as leading opponents among many others. Pundits say Eze and Ezea are giving the governor a good fight in the race.

'Before now in Enugu, it is the APC that has always challenged the ruling party with some seriousness. So, the party is well known...