By Emeka Amadi-Asonwu
With the mass defection to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) it is clear that securing the party’s ticket won’t be a walk in the park. It is likely going to be one of the most competitive in the forthcoming elections.
Aspirants on the party’s platform are already in deadly earnest to outwit one another for the ticket.
Even those without name recognition, low visibility and lack of popularity are deeply engaged in horse-trading just to secure nomination. It is expected that the direct primary which will be conducted through the option A4 model will reduce corruption of the process and produce an electable candidate.
But the signs are not confirming this reality unless there are other fail-safe measures that are not public knowledge. Other than this, the result may not be significantly different from what it has always been.
It is the prayer of the silent majority that the process is not compromised just so that the most qualified are not denied the opportunity to fly the party’s flag during the general elections.
What happened in 2023 when many, without electoral capital, cashed in on Peter Obi’s political strength to get elected may happen again but not as escalated as in the first instance.
This is not doubting the electoral influence of Obi. It can be said to have grown in leaps and bounds, but it will be politically naive to take things for granted by sending candidates without capacity to contest the general elections.
It is even worse to encourage fly-by-night aspirants who are only interested in using the party to further their political nest and abandon it soon after.
The case of Orumba North and South federal constituency should be handled with utmost care for obvious reasons.
The rumour bruited in some quarters is that the government of Anambra state has an unusual interest in what happens in the whole of Anambra South senatorial zone from the State House of Assembly through the House of Representatives to the Senate.
The interest here is not just power tussle but a well-rehearsed scheme to have placeholders, especially in the senate who will relinquish the seat when the need arises.
This presupposes that the battle in the State, and indeed the South Senatorial Zone, for electoral supremacy, will be twice as intense. It may not be a cakewalk elsewhere but it is certainly not going to be as tough.
It is for these reasons that all the aspirants should be considered on their own merit – what each and every one of them is bringing to the party in terms of capacity to win the general election.
It should not be business as usual where the party is made a thoroughfare to victory by politicians who have no use for consistency. It is not difficult to notice that many of the aspirants are liabilities whose interest does not go beyond winning on Obi’s coattails.
Many of them have been rabid critics of Obi and the Obidient movement until recently. The question will be what changed that brought about the sudden interest in the NDC, Obi and the Obidient Movement.
The contest will be tough and needs not just Obi’s goodwill but a support force from the candidate to make an impact. This will not be difficult to achieve with a popular candidate who has invested time and resources in politics. He will not only have the support of the people but their mandate will be willingly given.
The aspiration of Chinedu Ofomata to represent the people of Orumba North and South federal constituency ranks as one that fits the bill and has the capacity to win the election and stay the course for NDC.
He is a reliable politician who seeks power not for mere use but for service, justice and the welfare of the masses. The fact that society looks up to politicians for leadership and direction, requires that effort must be made at the party level to enthrone a candidate that has the capacity to win the election.
Ofomata does not just have the capacity to win Orumba North and South federal constituency for the NDC but he is bringing into the party as much asset as is available to any grassroots politician.
Until joining the NDC, he was of the People Democratic Party (PDP) – and an abiding member of the party whose loyalty was unquestioned.
He served as the state financial secretary of the party where he was able to impact the fortunes of many politicians both at the state level and within the Anambra South Senatorial Zone.
During the 2014 Anambra governorship campaign he worked alongside a few others for the election of Henry Oseloka Obaze.
He was equally very active in the 2019 Atiku/Obi presidential election. Ofomata is an ardent supporter of Obi and the Obidient Movement who believes that NDC as a party is well positioned to address the challenges facing the country in general and Orumba North and South federal Constituency in particular.
A formidable politician with no want of followership, he is collapsing his PDP structure into the NDC in order to form a strong coalition that will give the opposition a good run for their money.
He has been in the politics of Orumba North and South long enough to know where the dead bodies are buried. All he needs is the party platform to exhume and make these bodies wrest power from the bugbear that will threaten the party’s victory in the coming election.
It is important to make it clear there should be no assumption of victory in the coming election just because of Obi’s influence.
Rather a coordinated support is necessary to ensure there grows no dissenting weed to choke the flower of NDC victory.
It does not seem very useful dwelling on Ofomata’s aspiration and what it means for the people of Orumba North and South because it is going to be as committed in service as it will be sparing in neglect.
