Why the political game changed in Ebonyi

The recent political revolution in Ebonyi State may not be favourable to the People’s Democratic Party in the state; this is because the new party in the state, the Labour Party, has come in full force with some notable members of PDP defecting to contest under LP.
It could be recalled that the challenge governor Martin Elechi faced was how to shift the governorship position of the state to Ebonyi south after his administration, a situation which was challenged by some notable individuals in Ebonyi North.
The state was said to have drafted a charter of equity where the governorship position would be shifting between the north and the south but some notable politicians objected to that, saying it was not signed, therefore, that governor Elechi should not talk about that for now, This however, provoked a lot of people who never wanted the south to take after Elechi, but the governor had already made up his mind to allow the South take the slot and anointed the former minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu from the Afikpo area under the PDP but the deputy governor who is from Ohazalla, refused to obey his master with the support of some notable politicians from Abuja to take over the party structure from Elechi when the state party chairman resigned. The deputy governor through the vice chairman who was alleged to have received huge amount of money from the deputy governor refused to respect the governor not minding the governor’s age. All efforts by Abuja national secretariat to resolve the problem proved abortive, this angered the people to change the political tension in the state by defecting to another political party that had adopted President Jonathan as their presidential candidate.
This also has thrown away the golden opportunity given to the south to take over without much struggle to now contest with an Abakaliki man, a contest that will not be easy at all, under this situation, it will be a miracle for a PDP candidate to win in Ebonyi State; this is because Abakaliki bloc is far bigger that Afikpo bloc, that is, putting Afikpo and Ohazalla together, but as it is Afikpo is not happy with Ohazzalla; so, they cannot work as a team. Already, a lot of people who were with the deputy governor from the Abakaliki zone are defecting to Labour Party and the people of Afikpo also saw it as a challenge that Ohazzalla area stopped them and would back the LP candidate from Abakaliki. Just recently, the gubernatorial candidate for Labour Party, Edward Nkwegu at a church dedication where he announced his 6-point agenda in Ebonyi was a clear indication that the game will not be easy at all for PDP considering the quality of politicians backing him from the state.
Nkwegu said: “I’m in the race to make our state greater, virile and vibrant. Ebonyi State under Labour Party will be a state where the conduct of government business and public life shall be run in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution; a dynamic, vibrant and strong state of happy people who live in peace and harmony with each other.
“Labour Party will run a prosperous state, anchored on a strong agricultural revolution, increased industrialisation and stable economy without space for any discrimination of age, sex, religion, kindred, political affiliation or social attachment.”
He said the church mass was to seek the face of God and dedicate his campaign to God, saying that his administration would focus on six key areas of rapid industrialisation, modern agriculture, infrastructure reinforcement, job creation, human capital development/gender equity and health sector reforms.
“The essence of this mass is to invite God to give us peaceful and successful campaign. Some of the notable politicians in Ebonyi State that attended the service include Chris Nwankwo (Ebonyi North), Christopher Omo Isu and Peter Oge Ali, all members of the House of Representatives.
Assembly members and local government caretaker committee chairmen in the state; the leader of the officiating priests, Jerome Aneto of St. Mulumba Catholic Church, Azuiyiokwu, Abakaliki, pleaded with leaders to have pity on the people by using the resources of the state for the development and welfare of the people.
He described Nkwegu as a successful man, a man of God and philanthropist, who would not be coming to power to seek personal enrichment but to serve the people.
“I have prayed for him, I don’t believe in failure, I don’t believe in docility and I don’t believe in impossibility, with God everything is possible. He urged Christians to take active part in politics, saying that politics involves everybody because if the righteous is on the throne the people will rejoice. Although Governor Martin Elechi has vowed not to leave PDP but Ebonyi State is a pregnant state to be watched closely in 2015 election.