Anambra Guber: Cult Followership…Campaigns In America — Ifeanyi Ubah Explains Innovative Shot At Governorship

Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate in the Anambra governorship election, has explained strategies that would win him the November 6 gubernatorial poll.

Ubah, during an interview on Monday, described himself as the “king of grassroots in Anambra politics” and expressed confidence that he would defeat 17 other candidates vying for the seat.

Whoever emerges winner of the election will replace the incumbent Governor Willie Obiano whose two-terms of eight years will come to an end and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.

Ubah will be facing big shots such as Senator Andy Uba, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Charles Chukwuma, former Central Bank of Nigeria governor and candidate of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); and Valentine Ozigbo, former Transcorp CEO who is running on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking during an Arise TV interview monitored by THE WHISTLER on Monday, Ubah boasted about having a cult fellowship that would guarantee his victory at the polls.

“I don’t have any doubt that I would emerge the governor on 6th of November and I am sure. Even if you come to Anambra State, I have the biggest cult followers (sic) amongst the youths and also the electorates.

“We have done what no one has done in all ramifications of campaigning and electioneering. We are leading and they are copying us.

“No other contestant has gone to the 21 local government areas [in Anambra]. I did it two months ago ahead of everyone…it’s like I knew what is going to happen today (insecurity). So, I have done my sensitizations more than any other person.

“I am reluctant to hype myself, even to grant interviews…I am focused in what I am doing back home because election is very local and what we are doing is grassroot. I am the king of grassroots in Anambra politics and I am sure you know about this.”

The YPP candidate also explained that his strategy of taking his campaigns outside Anambra and to six states in the United States were deliberate.

“You know that there are a lot of our people in Lagos State and some sorts of livelihood for our people back home are generated through that means (trading) and they (the traders) have what it takes to change the tide during elections and that is why experience is very important in this business.

“Why will we take our campaign to far way in America if its not important. Because those people in America also send money back home, so they have control over the people they are also taking good care of back at home.

“So, it’s not just about going to Lagos to campaign. I have gone to six states in America which none of the contestants have gone to.

“I have been to Maryland, New Jersey, New York, California, Houston and Atlanta. I have gone to Turkey to campaign, so we can go anywhere to campaign. Today, you can also see that the other contestants are following the trend. They are following and copying me, but they can’t do what I did because as a trader, I have a bond and relationship with these markets. I have intervened in one way or the other in some of their problems and plights in Lagos. So, I have my way better than some of the contestants.”

Ubah said although his party is “relatively unknown”, he believes that he will replicate his victory at the last Anambra South Senatorial election where, “we defeated big major parties”.

On the threat by the Indigenous People of Biafra to lock down the South East for one-week if its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is not released before November 4, Ubah said leaders of the region were looking at political solutions to the matter.

“You must understand that Nnamdi Kanu has a lot of followership in the South East region and the government should take him seriously.

“But we are looking at political solutions to this issue and we are engaging with IPOB, explaining to them the importance of this election and I am sure that between now and the election day, we will have a truce. And the most important thing is that election is constitutional and we will go and conduct elections and I am also very much sure that there will be peaceful elections in Anambra State,” he said.