Anambra South LP Chieftains Insists on Zoning for 2025 Gubernatorial Election

AWKA, Nigeria – In a strongly worded communique issued following a crucial meeting in Awka, the Anambra South Senatorial Zone Labour Party Stakeholders, led by Honourable Paul Obu, the Minority Whip in the Anambra State House of Assembly, have condemned the actions of Governor Soludo towards a Catholic mourning family.

The Labour Party criticised the governor’s shocking public judgment of Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma (Father Ebube Muonso) during the burial of his mother as a breach of the Burial Law of Anambra State, aligning with the stance of His Grace Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province.

The offensive statement by the Governor Soludo was made at the funeral of the popular Catholic priest’s mother, Late Ezinne Grace Udefi Obimma, held on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at St. William’s Catholic Church, Nkwelle Ezunaka, in Oyi Local Government Area of the southeastern state.

“That it is contemptuous and smacks of irrationality and unbridled abuse of power for the Governor of Anambra State to constitute himself into the accuser, prosecutor, and judge when he publicly and embarrassingly adjudged that Rev Fr. Emmanuel Obimma, aka Ebube Muonso during the burial obsequies of his mother,” the statement read.

“The governor of Anambra State assumed Ecclesiastical jurisdiction for which he was appropriately rebuked by His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke,” the communique read, expressing alignment with the Archbishop’s stance.

Additionally, the widely-circulated communique, issued on Wednesday, condemned the “selective, unceremonious, and unwarranted suspension” of Igwe Damian Ezeani, the Traditional Ruler of Neni by Soludu, and addressed the issue of zoning in the forthcoming 2025 Anambra gubernatorial polls.

The Labour Party stakeholders unanimously resolved that Anambra stakeholders must maintain the principle of zoning of the state’s governorship seat.

“The LP Anambra South Senatorial District Stakeholders dutifully call on the national leadership of the Party to make a bold and unequivocal statement to this effect,” the communique stated, emphasising the need for orderliness and a rancour-free party primary election in Anambra State.

Furthermore, the Labour Party insisted that the ticket for the 2025 Anambra Gubernatorial Election must go to the Anambra South Senatorial Zone.

The group, made up of 54 political heavy-weights such as Valentine Ozigbo, a 2021 Governorship Candidate; Chief Okey Ezibe, a billionaire businessman; Ichie Sunday Ezeobiora, a billionaire agri-business leader; Chief Andy Azike, and four former commissioners, Barr. CJ Okoli-Akirika, Prof. Patrick Obi, Dr Collins Ohamobi, and Dr Ndidi Mezue; Dr. Tony Offiah, Mrs Amaka Ofojebe, Mrs Amaka Ewim; and some of the candidates in the 2023 House of Assembly election, also expressed its desire for candidates from Anambra South to support whoever emerges from their zone as the party’s candidate.

The high-powered political meeting was also attended by the Labour Party Anambra State Chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Umeh, some members of the party’s state executives, and all the seven local government chairpersons from Anambra South of the party.

The meeting and the subsequent communique reflect the growing concerns of Labour Party stakeholders and the broader electorate of the state over the Soludo administration’s approach to governance, cultural sensitivity, and adherence to the principles of zoning in political contests.