ABUJA, Nigeria – Following unsuccessful attempts to return to the Labour Party, Ifeanyi Ubah, the senator representing Anambra South zone, has defected to the All Progressive Congress, APC.
Senator Ubah’s switch from the Young Peoples Party, YPP, to the ruling party was announced during a Senate session on Thursday, October 12, 2023.
Political observers have noted that Ubah’s move to the APC appears to be in line with his aspirations for the Anambra gubernatorial seat in 2025.
Inside sources in the national and state executive council of the Labour Party have informed The Trent that for the past six months, Ubah has made overtures to return to the party in which he ran for governor unsuccessfully in 2014.
However, leaders of the Labour Party were weary of embracing Ubah, given his controversial image and “luggage”.
“This is a permanent customer of the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission). He owes AMCON hundreds of billions of naira, and information at our disposal reveals that the matter has been handed over to the EFCC. Anytime now, he will be charged,” the official told our corresponded on the condition of anonymity. “Who needs such baggage?”
The official also revealed that internal polls by the party reveal an extremely poor rating for Ubah in Anambra State. “He can only muscle his way to winning Nnewi local government area, and even then, in a free and fair contest, he will lose Nnewi. Don’t forget his educational deficiencies,” the official added.
Ubah’s spirited bid in 2021 saw him finishing in a distant fourth place, signalling the limitations of the Young Peoples Party as a viable platform for such a significant political position.
The decision to switch parties is seen by many as a calculated move to enhance his chances in the upcoming 2025 elections, given the increasing influence and reach of the APC in the region.
While Senator Ubah’s aspirations for the governorship are evident, it remains to be seen how his defection will be received by the APC’s leadership and the party’s grassroots supporters in Anambra.
Internal dynamics within the ruling present significant challenges. Chief among these challenges is the towering influence of Senator Andy Uba, a key figure and leader of the APC in Anambra State.
Andy Uba, a former senator, having represented the party in the 2021 gubernatorial elections, secured third place behind the Peoples Democratic Party’s Valentine Ozigbo and the eventual winner, Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Senator Andy Uba position in the party and his performance in the last election makes him a notable contender and potential roadblock for Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s ambitions.
The competition between these two political heavyweights is expected to be intense.
It will be intriguing to see how the APC manages these internal dynamics and whether the party can present a united front in the 2025 Anambra gubernatorial elections.
