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It is no longer news that some political actors and heavyweights in Anambra State are currently secretly dusting their files and their offices, fanning the embers of political war when the people of the state will file out to elect the next governor after the eventful tenure of Governor Peter Obi ends.Anambra politics undoubtedly has been the most difficult in the history of democracy to the country.

   Interestingly, the race to Anambra State Government House, Awka, in 2014 may not be a tea party as political heavyweights in the state know one another, their strength and weaknesses. In this report, EMMANUEL UZOR writes on the chances of former Governors of the state, who may be on the race for a second coming.

The most mind boggling jigsaw on the lips of political analysts have remained whether former governors, Chris Ngige and Any Uba, who might be the major contenders of the seat, will be second time lucky when the drum of war rolls, going by their records and the zones the come from.

These two men are currently representing their different zones as Senators. While Chris Ngige was elected a senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial zone on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Andy Uba also was elected twice as senator representing Anambra South. These two men have also tasted the governorship seat at the Government House Awka and were ousted in controversial ways, bowing out to the incumbent, Governor Peter Obi on different occasions.

While Ngige remained the Governor of Anambra state for almost three years before bowing out to Obi following the judgment of the Appeal court sitting in Enugu, Senator Andy Uba was not that lucky as he was sent packing barely two weeks after he was sworn in.

Daily Sun gathered that though the two victims of Obi’s resilience and judicial sagacity were sent out of the office in different political eras, their fate remained the most controversial in the history of Anambra state and our democracy since 1999. Senator Chris Ngige who was declared the governor of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in 2003 had his election voided by the Appeal court which ruled that Ngige was not the rightful winner of the said election and declared that the certificate of return earlier issued him be withdrawn while ordering immediate swearing in of Peter Obi as the rightful winner of the election.

However, Ngige who occupied the seat for three years was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and remained in the party until the time his relationship with the party became soiled following his abduction and the fights with his estranged political godfather who interestingly is Senator Andy Uba’s younger brother. According to some political analysts, when the political war drum is beaten to its highest tune, Senator Ngige will be second time lucky following the large followership and the rapid growth of his party, ACN in the country.

Senator Ngige is well known as a flamboyant politician who draws crowd wherever he goes. As a mater of fact, Ngige remains one of the most popular politicians in the state. While people say he earned his popularity from the good works he did in office as Governor, others said his humiliation, tribulations and resistance of his godfather threw him up to stardom. But whichever way, Ngige is not a push-over in the politics of Anambra state.

Others said he has advantage over others because of his political party, (ACN) which many believe has the strongest political propaganda machinery in the country being the party of the South Western part of Nigeria. Ngige has on so many occasions received great acceptance in different places he went. For instance, he is widely believed to be the godfather of politicians in some parts of his zone especially in Idemili North, Idemili South, and Njikoka local government areas of the state. Others included Oyi, Awka North and South local government areas.

Anambra state with her 21 local government areas have seven council areas each in the three senatorial zones and Ngige is believed to be in charge of almost five council areas in Anambra Central and might have an edge over other contenders. The odds against Ngige includes his coming from Alor, Idemili South of the Anambra Central zone which may face the challenge of getting the seat if zoning which the incumbent Governor may introduce in 2014 is anything to go by. He will be strongly challenged based on the fact that Anambra central can not produce the next governor in succession in 2014, and his opponents will use blackmail and sentiments to knock him off the beam.

Major opponents will come from the central zone. Even those who will be playing spoilers’ game will emerge from the zone. But the greatest threat that will militate against Ngige’s interest includes the emergence of Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, Prof. Dora Akunyili and Annie Okonkwo from the same zone. According to the Transition Committee Chairman of Anambra East council Area, Comrade Chinedu Obidigwe, “the issue of Ngige or Uba coming back to the government house had been long time ruled out, adding that we want fresh hands, we don’t want former governors back.”

Comrade Obidigwe however said that Anambra people are not known for recycling old politicians, stressing that in 2014 it is going to be a surprise as those highly believed to be the most favoured will be demystified by younger and new politicians. Senator Andy Uba: The former Governor of Anambra state for just three weeks and the former aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo so to say appears worst hit having stayed in office for weeks and remained the shortest serving governor in the history of Nigerian democracy.

He hails from Uga in Aguata local government area of Anambra state also in Anambra South senatorial District. Political analysts say that the Senator having the backing of the Abuja money bag politicians stands a better chance of being the next governor of the state.