As the clock ticks for the November 6 governorship election on November 6, 2021, the Roman Catholic Church in Anambra State which has been the engine room of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) might have dumped the candidate of the Party, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Chief Val. Ozigbo.
According to a competent a source close to the church, the leadership of the church in the state were in dilemma over which of the candidates to support among Soludo, Ozigbo or Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, the candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Each of the three candidates has peculiar relationship with the church as members and therefore were angling to secure the support of the church in the forthcoming election.
For instance, Dr. Okonkwo was said to be close to some of the Bishops and had contributed significantly in funding the church. He was said to have expected that this should be a pay back time for him but the leadership of the church was said to have weighed the option and came to the conclusion that Okonkwo may not get the state wide support needed to secure victory in this election.
They reasoned therefore that it would be a monumental waste to throw their weight behind the Ogidi born businessman and politician.
Consequently, they narrowed down their choice to Soludo and Ozigbo but they were said to be favourably disposed to Ozigbo because they are not sure of Soludo’s loyalty.
Our source said the Bishops were afraid that the Aguleri mafia pushing Soludo’s candidature may not allow him to be loyal to the church as the two previous governors, Peter Obi and Willie Obiano were.
Ozigbo, said our source, would be easily controlled than Soludo coupled with the fact that as long as he remained Obi’s boy, he would equally be loyal to the church..
Also, our source said that the discarding of Soludo by the leadership of the church was not only due to the Aguleri factor but because they see him as a strong character which cannot be easily manipulated.
