The effects of the Anambra governorship election are still being felt two weeks after it took place.
Recall that during that exercise, Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, lost his polling place.
The current governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and candidates from the All Progressives Grand Alliance, or APGA, dominated the polls; the APC candidate trailed well behind.
But despite being fostered as the national coalition party, the Labour Party and the African Democratic Congress, or ADC, fell short.
In Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area, the LP leader’s home polling place, Obi’s candidate was defeated by the APC.
Nicholas Ukachukwu of the APC received 73 votes, while Obi’s party, LP, received 57.
People anticipated his great popularity to propel victory on any occasion, thus this development has sparked a lot of reactions.
Many others, on the other hand, maintain that the former governor of Anambra State is still popular despite not being on the ballot for the governorship.
Obi did not keep the candidate he had selected to himself. Prior to the election, he had publicly endorsed him.
“I will support my party’s candidate, George Moghalu despite not being in my election, but my conscience says so,” he previously wrote on social media.
Not content to stop there, the 2023 presidential hopeful strolled around Anambra’s streets in support of the LP candidate who had supported him.
The Obidient family is fully present throughout Anambra State, according to Tanko, the coordinator of the Obidient Movement at the time.
“All 5720 voting units in the state have had their voting Unit Commanders inaugurated. Our grassroots structures are vibrant, active, and vigilant throughout every community, ward, and village, from Awka, Awkuzu, to Nnewi. Please feel free to cast your ballot for George Moghalu. “Voting for Moghalu is a vote for PO,” he declared.
The worry now is that the LP candidate did not perform well, even though Peter Obi and his Obidient Movement supported Moghalu.
The APC in Lagos State encouraged Obi to put the 2027 presidential race out of his mind after the results of the election.
The party claims that Nigerians cannot give Obi, who was unable to command respect in his own polling unit, control over their fate.
Seye Oladejo, the Lagos APC’s spokesperson, questioned how Obi plans to govern Nigeria given his inability to win at his own voting station.
“A man has no right to dream of winning a country if he can’t win his polling unit.” A man cannot claim national acceptance if he is rejected on his street.
Part of the statement said, “A man whose strongest base has crumbled cannot sell the lie of a national movement.”
The APC said that Obi’s loss in his polling place represented the “total disintegration of the myth around Peter Obi.” To make matters worse, we genuinely hope that Mr. Obi won’t run to plead for foreign help to save him from this political downfall, as he has shamelessly tried in the past.
“After being rejected at home, Nigeria’s democracy is not a toy for desperate politicians looking for sympathy abroad.”
In an interview with Barrister Emma Ibediro, a former APC National Organizing Secretary and member of the Igbo Agenda Dialogue, IAD, she emphasized that Peter Obi’s loss of his polling unit meant nothing at all and that the former governor wasn’t the one whose popularity was put to the test.
According to Peter Obi, he was not on the ballot. He was a candidate for governor of Anambra State.
He declared, “So Peter Obi has nothing to do with the Anambra election.”
When asked if Peter Obi’s popularity, which aided politicians in gaining political positions in 2023, was no longer accessible, he said, “No.” According to Peter Obi, he was not included on the ballot for the Anambra election.
“The popularity of the candidates running for the Anambra election has been evaluated. We will also assess Peter Obi’s popularity when he appears on the ballot. His popularity was not put to the test by losing his polling unit.
“He did not appear on the ballot. Peter Obi was right. He did not appear on the ballot. In his view, the winner of the Anambra election need to serve the people.
To put it another way, every candidate in the election was an Anambra. All those individuals are in his constituency, and he himself is attempting to run for a position greater than governor of Anambra. His function, in my opinion, was that of a statesman.
A few Nigerians responded to the outcome on social media:
“Even Obi is not really loved at home,” stated @AremuBlack. With almost 30% of the total votes, he was elected to a second term. We are all aware of the cause of the unexpected love.
@YettyO_Jp, Even in his own backyard, Peter is losing. Even among his own people, Peter Obi is no longer as popular!
@otunbacashogy2, “In Anambra State, Peter Obi was finally demystified. He was rejected by his own family.
@stanlesz05, “He lost to the APC, which made matters worse.”
@Adedoyinfalade “Don’t lose relevance, Baba. 2027. It will be shocking!
@omoniyielegbel1, Even Moghalu’s polling unit was defeated. @PeterObi has no influence.
“Peter Obi was not on the ballot,” stated @PeterRaph4Obi. Please return in 2027.
@amkeyus “Will Peter run for office? Don’t you seem STUPID if the answer is no?
@Ifeanyi83342988, “You people give the impression that Obi is running; I’m sure you recall that Obi won the entire Southeast in the previous presidential election.”
@KpuraAraba In the state of Anambra, people vote in this manner. They often don’t back Peter’s candidate if it’s not his election. Put him on the ballot, and they will overwhelmingly support him. Peter backed a different candidate during Obiano’s reelection campaign, thus they disregarded him.
@Iambigiyke “If you wish to test Obi’s structure, put him on the ballot; it’s not his election. Since @CCSoludo is the superior candidate, I cast my vote for him. Obi or nothing in the 2027 elections!
