BY SUNNY DAVID
Following the realization that the choice of who becomes the next governor of Anambra state is in the hands of Ihiala people, prominent sons of Ihiala early on Monday began mobilizing indigenes of the area at home and in diaspora to vote in Tuesday’s supplementary governorship election.
Our correspondent gathered that the prominent indigenes of the state who began mobilization to ensure large turn out of voters on Tuesday include Mr. Ernest Obiejesi, popularly known as Obijackson, Chairman of Air Peace Airline, Barrister Allen Onyema, Chairman of Seplat Oil, Dr. ABC Orjiakor among other.
Ihiala is reputed to be the local government area with the highest concentration of billionaires, after Nnewi town.
The town will Tuesday decide the fate of the major candidates in the governorship race, as 148,000 voters in the local government area will be going to the polls.
Ihiala has the second largest voting strength in Anambra state, following behind Idemili North local government area.
Our sources told our correspondent that the major candidates in the Anambra governorship election have shifted their attention to Ihiala, pressing to mobilize voters for themselves.
It was gathered that many voters in Ihiala who reside in other towns have been trooping home since noon, in preparation for the Tuesday polls.
“Some of our brothers who live in Lagos and Abuja have already arrived by air, on the sponsorship of some of our billionaires,” a source said.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that Governor Willie Obiano has been pressing some of the notable figures in the state to work for APGA, to ensure that Prof. Chukwuma Soludo who is already clearly in the lead, wins the election.
Prof. Soludo is leading with about 45,000 votes, but with 148,000 votes, if Ihiala people decide to favour PDP’s candidate, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo with their votes, or APC’s Senator Andy Uba, they can comfortably make anyone of them the next governor of the state.
One of our source said that Chief Allen Onyema was already working hard to ensure that indigenes of the State voted Prof. Soludo.
