Abia: Rumbles Over Council Polls

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State

Barely 10 days to the expiration of the tenure of chairmen and councillors in the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State, a titanic battle is in the offing as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Theodore Orji bicker over when to schedule the election
By Amechi Nwede, Umuahia
It is now apparent that all is not well between the ruling Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) under Governor Theodore Orji and the leading opposition party in the state, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The absurdity, however, is that even within the state-controlled PPA, unfolding events cast doubt on the unity of the party and its ability to win the 2010 council polls.
The ruling PPA-led government of Governor Orji and the opposition PDP led by Onyema Ugochukwu in the aftermath of the April 14, 2007 guber polls parted ways. The cat-and -mouse relationship of the two brothers from Abia Central Senatorial zone was further smeared by the January 19, 2008 local government polls in the state. The bone of contention was the PDP’s allegation of stolen mandate by obvious use of state government machinery to cede victory to the Progressive People’s Alliance. The PDP reasoned that the party’s boycott of the council elections was premised on flagrant abuse of court injunction which restrained the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), from proceeding with the conduct of the election. The aftermath of the election, no doubt, generated heated controversy across of the state.
An appraisal of the Abia Local Government Council Law No.2, 2006, shows that the tenure of  serving chairmen and councillors, all who are PPA loyalists would terminate by January, 2010, and then a fresh elections are to be conducted at a yet-to-be fixed date by ABSIEC.
Stanley Ejiofor, a political analyst argued that: “If there is any unforeseen circumstance that could trigger controversy and upheaval during the council polls, it is the Abia State Local Government Council Law No. 2, 2006,” passed and signed into law by the erstwhile Abia House of Assembly Speaker, now member representing Umuahia South and North Constituency at the House of Representatives, Stanley Ohajuruka and former Abia Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu.
Drawing instances, the analyst said that the Law not only endorses a two-year tenure for serving chairmen and councillors in the 17 LGC's of the state, but also made it constitutional for a defeated council chairman to unseat his victorious opponent where he (the defeated candidate) is declared winner by a tribunal. This is irrespective of the appeal court.
But the law, The Source learnt, has remained controversial as it concerns the forthcoming council polls where an Action Congress (AC) stalwart and candidate for Aba South local Government secured victory from the state tribunal after his defeat at the poll, but was not recognised by the ABSIEC which he challenged.
Political pundits say, Nwachukwu got more than he bargained for when he was clamped into detention over allegation of involvement in the kidnap bid of Prof. Stephen Emejuaiwe, Chairman of ABSIEC. The Source, gathered that with virtually all the chairmanship and councillorship positions at the third-tier of government occupied by PPA, all is now set for another huddle. Already, the atmosphere in the state is high with political gladiators in their drums in readiness for the 2010 polls.
At least, The Source can authoritatively reveal that about three months ago, the opposition PDP had broken the serenity of the state with about three political rallies held in the three senatorial zones of the state. The mood in the state, a source fided in The Source, indicates a desperate move by the PDP to snatch leadership from Governor Orji. A Government House source who pleaded anonymity confirmed that the state local government council Law no 2, 2006 could pose a fresh challenge to Orji in the 2010 council polls. According to him, a repeat of what happened to the AC stalwart may rear its head again.
Governor Orji who controls the PPA structure is strategising in lieu of the election. But the Council Chairmen and councillors in the 17 LGC,'s The Source learnt, are unhappy. Apart from bemoaning their two years tenure, the councillors, inside sources say, are not happy that they are owed arrears of salaries. Even when paid, they are paid piece-meal – a situation which most of them frown at. Investigation by The Source shows that most councillors and chairmen of the councils have ended up with miniature projects in their electorates as democracy dividends – a development which could deny them support of the people in the next elections.
An inside source said councillors were earlier warned never to moot impeachment threat against their chairmen or face wrath of the state government. Worried by the development, Governor Orji learnt directed council chairmen to use the Excess Crude Oil momey accruing to the council to settle the arrears. Perhaps yielding no results, the government resorted to obtaining a loan facility of N30 billion from the World Bank.
The Governor, government house sources said, is having sleepless nights over how to settle teachers salaries arrears, call back striking Judicial Services Workers, and settle the rift in the state own university, (ABSU). But, critics and opposition against Orji have flayed the governor’s position on paucity of the state economy. Many of the critics, who are members of the PDP, attributed orji’s woes to his penchant in accumulation of white Elephant projects which they claimed were later dumped. The opposition cited instances of the abandoned Abia Modern Market at Ibeku, the industrial markets construction between Milat and the Civil Service Academy near Ohuhu. Orji’s critics heaped blames on his financial misdirection.
But the Governor is not resting on his oars. He has been traversing the state to prove his critics wrong. In his meetings with party supporters, traditional rulers and stakeholders, the Ibeku-Umuahia, born politician always gave a graphic account of his stewardship and the allocation accruing to the state.
Since the controversial Local Council polls of 2008 in the state, The Source gathered that the level of bickering, acrimony and manoeuvring has gained momentum. At the centre of the confusion is the state ABSIEC and government. While ABSIEC alleges that Nwachukwu was not the right candidate for election, the government blamed the current woes on constitutionalism. Erstwhile Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Sir Ohajuruka confirmed the existence of the Abia State LGC Law No 2, 2006, but added that the House would amend the clauses to avoid future disagreements. It is not clear whether the present House of Assembly members under Agwu U. Agwu have amended the controversial flaws in the council law. As it is now, opposition is mounting between the incumbent Governor and his predecessor, Orji Uzor Kalu. Pundits argue that this could be gleaned from a flurry of advertorials appearing in National Dailies. In fact, the tone and slang’s of the advertorials are designed to suggest that bitter quarrels exist between Kalu and Orji. The schism, The Source learnt, is between errand boys of Kalu and those of Orji. Kalu’s errand boys are pouring vernom at Orji, accusing him of not doing enough to show gratitude to Kalu for installing him governor in the April 14 2007 guber poll. Orji’s errand boys on the other hand are not folding their hands. They have come out powerfully to challenge the pro Kalu groups.
The Pro-Kalu camp, a source vouched, is not comfortable that the incumbent governor paid a visit on Chief Benjamin Apugo, a PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) member and an opponent of Kalu’s government. They are wary of possible defection of Orji to the PDP.  As it is now, Kalu and Orji are keeping their disagreements to themselves. Pundits averred that the development could have a backlash effect on the council polls which would stand as a litmus test over who rules Abia in 2011. Inside Government House sources confided in The Source that Kalu may have kept Governor Orji on the hold going by his perceived tarciturn on his second tenure. This is why barely 565 days for his first tenure to expire, Orji is yet to commence his campaign or make overtures relating to his second tenure.
Chairman of the state PPA, Chief Ezeogo Ohuoha flayed rumours on Governor Orji’s plot to defect to the PDP. Onuoha also painted the relationship between Gov. Orji and his predecessor as robust. As at press time, Governor Orji while briefing newsmen, January 4, 2010 at government house, umuahia, boasted that within two months, he will turn around the economy of the state, suggesting that the World Bank may have come to Orji’s rescue.
With the legal battle between Onyema Ugochukwu and Orji still pending at the Appeal Court for re-interpretation, some councillors and chairmen of the Abia Local Councils are yet to know their faith. A PDP stalwart, Sam Agbo confided in The Source that the party has ordered interested candidates for the 2010 council polls to indicate interest.
Governor Orji has only two years more to prove his critics wrong by repositioning the economy of the state – bearing in mind that the outcome of the 2010 council polls in the state is a major determinant for who occupies Abia government house in 2011. Analysts are quick to point to the alleged blistered relationship between Governor Orji and his political god-father which he said could affect PPA’s chances in next elections in the state.