Abia state voters are probably the most intelligent voters in Nigeria
3 min read
Election
By Emeka Ugwuonye
Judging by the voting patterns in Abia State in the last election, one must come to the conclusion that Abia State voters are probably the most informed and most effective voters in the whole of Nigeria. Unlike in other states where voters voted along party lines, Abia voters carefully evaluated each candidate and voted based on their assessment of the capacity and each candidate’s abilities, potentials and past contributions to the well-being of the people.
Let us look at the following clear illustrations:
ABIA SOUTH: The voters voted for Enyinnaya Abaribe. Abaribe is a man loved by the people of Abia State. Among the reasons they love him is that he has demonstrated the greatest support for IPOB among Igbo politicians. He stood surety for Nnamdi Kanu. It doesn’t matter the party he runs under, Abaribe will win elections in Abia State based on the love the people have for him. So, their vote for Abaribe was consciously given based on their love for him. What is also very important about Abia South is not just whom they voted for, but who they rejected. They rejected Governor Okezie, the then incumbent Governor, who had all the other factors in his favor.
ABIA CENTRAL: When it comes to Abia Central, the incumbent was Theodor Orji a former Governor of Abia State. He was not contesting, but PDP, his party, was supposed to be heavy weight in Abia Central. But because the voters were very intelligent, they were not swayed by any loyalty to the ruling party. So, they chose a man they believed had the potential to help them. That man was Darlington Nwokocha, an LP candidate. So, the Abia voters showed maturity and showed they were not loyal to party, but to candidates they love.
ABIA NORTH: This is where it was most dramatic. Consistent with their over-all approach to voting decisions, the voters chose the candidate they love and whose past record convinced them would be in their best interest. That candidate is Orji Uzor Kalu. The voters were not swayed by any bandwagon effect over Labor Party and Peter Obi. They loved Peter Obi, but they intelligently understood that Peter Obi was not running as a senator for Abia State. They knew that OUK was voted the best performing Senator in the 9th Senate. They knew how OUK had helped his people over the years. They voted for him regardless of any other consideration.
GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION: Again, the people showed intelligence. They voted for Alex Otti. They were not swayed by the incumbency factor either at the state level by PDP or at the federal level by APC.
In conclusion, when anybody tries to question the soundness of the voter behavior in Abia State, such person is not being honest or realistic. Every candidate voted for by Abia voters is actually the best and one loved and supported by the people of Abia. It is on the basis of this that I would be confident to say that OUK is a man loved by the Abia people and chosen by the Abia people. And only the Abia people who voted for OUK can tell us about the man.
