Maduako Igbokwe l Tuesday, July 06, 2021
ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – No fewer than ten persons including technocrats, clergies, labour leaders and industrialists are jostling for the running mate of Akachukwu Nwankpo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Anambra state November 6, 2021 governorship election.
There is seemingly mad rush for the running mate slot to Akachukwu Sullivan Nwankpo, who emerged ADC’s candidate in the most peaceful and credible Governorship Primary in Awka, the state capital, on June 29, this year. Investigation by our reporter revealed that a number of prospective running mates are being shortlisted for the position.
Leading the pack of those tipped for the party’s Number Two seat in the state include the 2011 Forbes’ 20 Youngest Powerful Women in Africa and Harvard Business School African-American Alumni, Mrs Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli; a former State Chairman of the party and pastor with RCCG denomination; a former ADC Governorship aspirant, Engineer Afam Ezenwafor; Pastor Frank Ughamadu of the Dominion City Church; two labour leaders, and an industrialist, among others.
An insider source said: “That ADC that conducted the most widely-acclaimed and attended party Primary is yet to agree on a consensus candidate for their Deputy Governor’s slot. Not less than 10 candidates have been nominated by stakeholders within and outside the party.”
The source further said that the governorship candidate and former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo could not agree with the position of some of the stakeholders. However, our reporter gathered that both Nwankpo and the National Chairman of the party, Ralphs Okey Nwosu, favoured either an Anglican or a Pentecostal Christian with high profile entrepreneurial background to augment the party candidate.
When contacted, at his Awka residence on the development, during the party formal inauguration of ADC Youths Council Anambra State Chapter, Nwosu disclosed that the party will likely settle for a Youth of either gender in keeping with the 35% Youths and 35% Women inclusion as enshrined in the constitution.
The National Chairman, said there was no disagreement between them or anyone for that matter. Our reporter , observed that one name that keeps popping up in the list is that of a leadership development mentor and member of Rockefeller Foundation Board of Trustees, Mrs Nwuneli. Nwuneli is a founder of LEAP Africa, a body that creates a new generation of responsible, dynamic and visionary leaders that will transform Africa.
She had served as a member of USAID’s Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid on COWAN and FADU. She was also a World Economic Forum, United Nations Commission for Social Development and TED Global Speaker as well as a seasoned transformational driver on Africa’s food and agricultural ecosystem.
When the name of Mrs Nwuneli was mentioned to the National Chairman of ADC, Nwosu hesitated but told our correspondent that “Ndidi Nwunneli will do great work in Public service, but that she has already relocated to the USA .
“There has been a keen interest in ADC by Anambra stakeholders and political elites because the party is seen as one of the few parties that had a rancour-free Governorship Primary election , unlike what obtained in that of PDP, APC APGA which were and are still enmeshed in supremacy fights with unresolved court issues.
Meanwhile, ADC has vowed to take over political leadership of the country at the centre, beginning with the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra State. The party through its National Chairman, Nwosu said birthing a New Nigeria is a possible project, which will begin in Anambra State.
He said that the party has marshaled political strategies to earn it the victory and called on party faithful and good people of the state to rally round the party during the forthcoming state polls to experience good governance that will salvage the state.
Nwosu said the party will take critical steps to form grand political coalition and partners with labour leaders, coalition of civil Societies, concerned professionals, youth as well as women groups to take ownership of the party to rescue Anambra in 2021.
He expressed optimism that a transformational ADC Governor in the state Nze Nwankpo will emerge to take charge and create prosperity for the people of Anambra State. “Like Nigerians, Anambra people have said they need a new party, and ADC has been chosen.”
