While the National Organising Secretary, His Excellency Alhaji Suleiman Argungu has come out to repudiate the viral schedule of events and proposed fees for aspirants to various positions in the Party, what cannot be denied is that, going by the schedule already released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Parties, including the APC would have to hold its primaries not later than May 30th 2026. So, the schedule denounced by the APC National Organising Secretary might not be very far from what the authentic schedule of events will look like, when it is eventually released.
It is therefore understandable that all the individuals who seek to contest elections under different platforms have started in earnest to consult different stakeholders, while a few others, banking on some powerful intervention from the top, are bidding their time and waiting for an automatic endorsement.
In Okigwe zone where I hail from, there are three individuals who have made their intention known to contest for the Senatorial election on the platform of APC. While these individuals are eminently and undoubtedly qualified to represent the zone in the Red Chamber, a brief look at their antecedents, especially, as it concerns their commitment to the APC and also their acceptability before the masses, might help us to have a better understanding of what is at stake and what could be the Party’s best option, in the next five or six weeks when the primaries are set to hold.
Every election cycle throws up a new person with some charm and some claim of having the magic wand, but, except on very rare occasions, the more experienced politicians always have their way, while the inexperienced, audacious and courageous greenhorns learn their lessons. This might be the case with a young looking moneybag, Ike Kennedy Odoeme, who has literally taken Okigwe zone by storm, visiting politicians of the APC that matter, and at every turn, dishing out hard, crispy currencies.
Ike Kennedy Odoeme from Ihitte-Uboma might have made a better claim to the APC ticket if he invested these resources he is expending on trying to secure the ticket for Okigwe South Federal Constituency. Noted as a very brilliant man, who had spent a few years as a secret police officer with the DSS, before resigning to venture into private business, Ike Odoeme would have been given a good consideration if he wasn’t coming up against one of Imo’s most experienced and connected politicians, at this moment. So, if I were to advise, I would suggest that he looks at contesting for the Okigwe South Constituency which should be open and going by the unwritten zoning arrangement, should return to Ihitte-Uboma.
The incumbent, Senator Patrick Ndubueze, is another aspirant, who has his eyes on the APC ticket and is leaving no stone unturned. Ordinarily, one would have made a strong case for him to get a second term, but it appears that the critical leaders and stakeholders of Okigwe zone are not satisfied with his outing in his first term. I have had the opportunity to interact with some key leaders of the Party from Okigwe zone, their shared experiences with the engineer turned politician is not very interesting and if the ticket is thrown open, it would be a major upset if the incumbent Senator gets up to 25% of the votes of members of the Party.
Some people have mooted the idea of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume nursing the ambition of returning to the Senate. But, an Ifeanyi Ararume candidacy under the APC would be disrespectful to the members of the Party, not just in the zone but also across the State. The 2019 governorship candidate of APGA could try his luck from another Party, but the facts are clear that he has treated the APC in Okigwe zone and Imo State with the utmost disrespect and disdain. We have heard from his scanty followers that he has secured the ticket from Abuja, but that is a confirmation that Chief Ararume has not really understood the internal reforms that have taken place in the APC. The Party cannot impose an unpopular Party member as a candidate.
The beautiful bride of APC leaders and members across the senatorial district appears to be Longers Anyanwu, and the reasons might not be farfetched.
During his consultative meeting with critical leaders of the zone at the home of the most politically influential traditional ruler in Okigwe zone, HRH Eze Oliver Ohanweh, key leaders, even those whom we would have ordinarily expected to be top contenders for the Okigwe seat, showered praises on the former Commissioner for Agriculture and assured him of their undiluted support in the coming election.
Chief Longers Anyanwu towers above all the aspirants, not because of his physical height or material wealth, but because of his indisputable mental wealth and enviable political experience. Having played at the highest levels of politics since 1999 when democracy returned, Chief Longers is a clear choice for Okigwe zone APC members, and the general electorate when the main election holds.
Enjoying a deserved massive goodwill from across political divides in Okigwe, Chief Anyanwu commands the kind of popularity that would guarantee an easy victory for the Party if he is elected as the Party’s flag bearer during the primaries.
