By Ikenna Maxwell
Wife of president Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience has allegedly thrown her weight behind the aspiration of the member representing Anaocha, Dunukofia Njikoka federal constituency, Uche Ekwunife to replace Senator Chris Ngige.
HOMELAND NEWS gathered that Dame Jonatahn confirmed this during her recent visit to Anambra State for the 4J rally in support of her husband’s aspiration.
According to a source who claims to be in the know, Dame Jonathan had in a secret meeting with some dignitaries after the rally told the state governor, Willie Obiano that Mrs. Ekwunife is the favoured candidate for the zone.
The source said Gov. Obiano had wanted to utilize the opportunity of the visit to make a strong case for his new found man-Friday, Chief Victor Umeh whom he is supporting for the senate race when the president’s wife in her usual bluntness made the statement.
This website further gathered that the former governor Peter Obi was responsible for the decamping of Uche Ekwunife when it became obvious to him that the duo of Chief Umeh and Gov. Obiano were bent on doing him in.
It was not ascertained whether Gov Obi was responsible for influencing Dame Jonathan to support Ekwunife’s aspiration as a payback for Chief Umeh who have taken over the structure of APGA to push for his senatorial ambition.
The battle for Anambra Central Senatorial seat will be a tough one with Dr. Ngige an incumbent vying on the platform of APC, Uche Ekwunife in PDP and Victor Umeh who has the total support of the governor of the state vying in APGA. A handful of other aspirants in PDP have also indicated interest.
There is a thought in some quarters that the future of APGA lies in the outcome of the coming election. Recently, all Anambra State representatives in the green chamber of the National Assembly belonging to APGA defected to the PDP. And just last week, former governor Peter Obi also left to join the PDP.
