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Enugu PDP's Desperate Attempt to Infiltrate the Church Ahead of Gubernatorial Elections

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State has allocated two billion naira to bribe the Christian church in the state to support its candidates in the upcoming gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections on March 11. The funds, coming largely from the PDP governorship candidate, Peter Mbah, and outgoing Governor Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, will be distributed among various churches in the state. Enugu PDP has also resolved to use a strategy that involves unleashing violence and cash on both INEC officials and voters, similar to that employed by Bola Tinubu in the past election.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Enugu PDP has allocated two billion naira to bribe the Christian church in the state to support its candidates in the upcoming elections.
  • The funds are coming largely from the PDP governorship candidate, Peter Mbah, and outgoing Governor Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
  • Two prominent clergymen, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma and Monsignor Obiora Ike, have been identified to serve as arrowheads for the distribution of the funds.
  • Archbishop Chukwuma has already started work, declaring that the Church will surely speak and avoid making mistakes on March 11.
  • Monsignor Ike is considered favourable to the PDP candidate due to his longstanding cosy relationship and Monsignor's role in the establishment of the law faculty of Godfrey Okoye University.
  • Many priests are opposed to the PDP's move, citing the perception of scandal and the church's role as a social mobiliser.
  • The PDP's strategy involves unleashing violence and cash on both INEC officials and voters, similar to that employed by Bola Tinubu in the past election.
  • Analysts believe it is too late for the PDP to make a dent in the state, with many defections to the Labour Party following the February 25 polls.
  • Dr. Chinyeaka Ohaa, Captain Evarest Nnaji, and Emmanuel Uche Ogbodo have all joined the Labour Party and are seeking to run on its ticket in the Enugu East senatorial race.
  • Dr. Joy Ugwuegede has declared that it is game over for the PDP in Enugu State.

Statistics:

  • 2 billion naira allocated for bribe the Christian church in Enugu State
  • 1 billion naira for the Catholic Church
  • 500 million naira for the Anglican Communion
  • 500 million naira for other churches
  • 46,948 votes margin by which Labour Party's Okey Ezea defeated outgoing Governor Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in the Enugu North senatorial election
  • 104,492 votes received by Okey Ezea in the Enugu North senatorial election

Sources:

  • "Rattled by the outcome of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections which saw the opposition Labour Party (LP) sweep the polls in the state..."
  • "While N1bn is for the Catholic Church, which is by far the biggest sect in the state, N500m is for the Anglican Communion and the remaining N500m is for other churches."
  • "Much of the money is coming from the PDP governorship candidate, Peter Mbah, a former Commissioner for Finance who owns Pinnacle Oil and Gas Company in Lagos, and outgoing Governor Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who lost the Enugu North senatorial election on February 25 by 46,948 to 104,492 votes to Labour Party's Okey Eza."
  • "Only the Church can save the situation for us because it is the largest vehicle for social mobilisation here."

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