Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAGOS248
2007-04-10 10:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
PDP MONOPOLY SET TO CONTINUE IN EBONYI STATE
how-toVZCZCXRO9491 RR RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #0248/01 1001032 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 101032Z APR 07 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8723 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 8550 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0258 RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0238 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0237 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 0239 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000248
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W
STATE FOR INR/AA
WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK
CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR
ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH
SAO PAOLO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM NI
SUBJECT: PDP MONOPOLY SET TO CONTINUE IN EBONYI STATE
REF: 06 LAGOS 1000
LAGOS 00000248 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B and D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000248
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W
STATE FOR INR/AA
WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK
CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR
ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH
SAO PAOLO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM NI
SUBJECT: PDP MONOPOLY SET TO CONTINUE IN EBONYI STATE
REF: 06 LAGOS 1000
LAGOS 00000248 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B and D)
1. (C) Summary: A March 28 visit by Poloff to Ebonyi State
showed the People's Democratic Party's (PDP) dominance had no
signs of abating. Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu has used
patronage to make himself the dominant political figure in
the State. Egwu chose previously unheralded Martin Elechi as
the PDP gubernatorial candidate, and propelled him over
better-known rivals to win the PDP primary. Opposition
parties are weak and are expected to show little resistance
to the PDP in the April election. End summary.
--------------
Patronage Politics Fuels Ebonyi Economy
--------------
2. (C) On March 28 Poloff visited Abakaliki, the capital of
Ebonyi State. Abakaliki is a small city, and the roads are
in good condition. However, there is a pronounced lack of
commercial development. Ebonyi is the least populous and
poorest state in the Southeast.
3. (C) Felix Uka, Correspondent for the Daily Independent,
described Ebonyi to Poloff as a politically peculiar state.
In Uka's description, Ebonyi is the poorest and most backward
state in the Southeast, and everyone is dependent on
government largesse. As a result, Ebonyi residents do not
question the Governor.
4. (C) Prior to becoming governor, Sam Egwu was a lecturer in
Abakaliki, but he has become the richest man in the state,
owning a hotel and numerous houses, Uka said. Egwu's wife
runs an international school and a nongovernmental
organization. (Note: The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) investigation of Egwu is ongoing, and
Ebonyi State commissioners have been called to Abuja to
testify. However, Egwu has been recently cleared by the Code
of Conduct Tribunal on charges brought to it against him.
End Note) While people in Ebonyi personally like Egwu as
good-spirited and personable, people tended to take advantage
of his naivete to cheat on contracts in the state, Ukah
commented.
--------------
Egwu Reveals a Surprise Choice
--------------
5. (C) With the opposition weak, the People's Democratic
Party (PDP) gubernatorial primary attracted a panoply of
candidates, Uka said. Primary voters looked for the person
who promised the most money, and for a while former Federal
Minister of Culture Frank Ogbuewu, armed with an impressive
war chest, appeared the favorite. Egwu, noting that Ogbuewu
was a favorite of Anambra State strongman Chris Uba, brother
of Special Presidential Advisor Andy Uba, was concerned about
losing control of the State to the Uba brothers. (reftel)
6. (C) Ogbuewu's appeal proved to be transitory. Uka
explained to Poloff that there are two PDP blocs, the
Abakaliki and the Afikpo blocs. To defeat Ogbuewu, Egwu
chose the previously unheralded Martin Elechi, who is from
the same bloc as Ogbuewu. While Ogbuewu and Senator Emma
Agboti contested the primary, Egwu coerced all other PDP
aspirants to drop out, and he then used his financial muscle
to swing the primary toward Elechi.
7. (C) Vincent Ude-Umanta, Administrative Director of the PDP
Gubernatorial and Presidential campaigns in Ebonyi, said
Elechi's appointment was a complete surprise to Ebonyi
insiders. In his seventies, Elechi's previous governing
experience was as Minister of Public Works for the defunct
East Ebonyi Central State. Uka said Elechi was a key player
in the creation of Ebonyi in 1996. Although Elechi owes his
primary victory to Egwu, observers see differences between
the Governor and his putative successor. Uka and Ude-Umanta
both said Elechi believed more in merit than did Egwu, and
LAGOS 00000248 002.2 OF 002
predicted Elechi would reform the civil service to assure
merit. However, both agreed the question is whether Elechi
can work within the patronage system Egwu created.
--------------
Opposition Forms "Operation Vigilance"
But Unlikely to Defeat Elechi
--------------
8. (C) The opposition appears weak and unable to seriously
challenge the PDP. Uka considered Ogbonnaya Onu of the All
Nigerian People's Party (ANPP) the strongest opposition
candidate. Onu was the former governor of Abia State, but
although Onu has had some large rallies, he lacks the
resources to seriously challenge the PDP machine, Uka
commented.
9. (C) Other opposition parties suffer from similar
limitations. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
showed strength in 2003. While still popular, it has
suffered defections and now appears leaner than before, Uka
said. APGA gubernatorial candidate Anthony Oka, an attorney,
lacks money or the grassroots organization to be competitive.
Progressive People's Alliance (PPA) gubernatorial candidate
Henry Udeh had a strong turnout at a recent rally and Uka
felt the PPA has overtaken APGA in the State. However, the
PPA does not pose a threat to the PDP's dominance.
10. (C) APGA's Oka told Poloff the PDP had planned to
manipulate the vote. Oka complained the Ebonyi government
was using Local Government Council (LGC) funds to fuel its
campaign. According to Oka, the LGC funds were used to
purchase rice for women who will work to tally the vote for
Elechi. To fight this, Oka had invited fellow opposition
candidates to join "Operation Vigilance", which would pool
the opposition's resources to ensure a free and fair
election. This group included all the main opposition
candidates except for Onu, Oka said.
-------------- --------------
Violence Possible, but Elechi Expected to Win Easily
-------------- --------------
11. (C) If free and fair, the election would be very
difficult for the PDP to win, Ukah postulated, because Elechi
was not a prominent candidate and many PDP partisans were
furious at the way Egwu commandeered the primary. Ukah
thought some of the upset PDP primary contenders would lodge
a protest vote, but he predicted the PDP machine would
manipulate the vote to ensure victory.
12. (C) There are indications that violence could occur.
Recently four policemen were kidnapped and two of them were
murdered in Ebonyi. It is unknown who perpetrated this act,
but the Ebonyi government blamed Senator Agboti, Elechi's
primary rival. Ebonyi does have a history of political
violence. In 2003, there was some political violence,
according to Oka. Ude-Umanata, who worked on Lawrence
Nwuruku's campaign when Nwuruku ran on the ANPP ticket in
2003, also commented that violence that year was severe.
--------------
Comment
--------------
13. (C) Although interlocutors referred to Ebonyi as a
politically peculiar state, the patronage system Governor
Egwu employs is a familiar one. PDP domination of Ebonyi,
due to this system, appears set to continue. Opposition
parties engender little respect. Elechi's election appears a
fait accompli. This also should mean that the PDP
presidential candidate should do well in Ebonyi. End comment.
BROWNE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W
STATE FOR INR/AA
WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK
CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR
ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH
SAO PAOLO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM NI
SUBJECT: PDP MONOPOLY SET TO CONTINUE IN EBONYI STATE
REF: 06 LAGOS 1000
LAGOS 00000248 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (B and D)
1. (C) Summary: A March 28 visit by Poloff to Ebonyi State
showed the People's Democratic Party's (PDP) dominance had no
signs of abating. Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu has used
patronage to make himself the dominant political figure in
the State. Egwu chose previously unheralded Martin Elechi as
the PDP gubernatorial candidate, and propelled him over
better-known rivals to win the PDP primary. Opposition
parties are weak and are expected to show little resistance
to the PDP in the April election. End summary.
--------------
Patronage Politics Fuels Ebonyi Economy
--------------
2. (C) On March 28 Poloff visited Abakaliki, the capital of
Ebonyi State. Abakaliki is a small city, and the roads are
in good condition. However, there is a pronounced lack of
commercial development. Ebonyi is the least populous and
poorest state in the Southeast.
3. (C) Felix Uka, Correspondent for the Daily Independent,
described Ebonyi to Poloff as a politically peculiar state.
In Uka's description, Ebonyi is the poorest and most backward
state in the Southeast, and everyone is dependent on
government largesse. As a result, Ebonyi residents do not
question the Governor.
4. (C) Prior to becoming governor, Sam Egwu was a lecturer in
Abakaliki, but he has become the richest man in the state,
owning a hotel and numerous houses, Uka said. Egwu's wife
runs an international school and a nongovernmental
organization. (Note: The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) investigation of Egwu is ongoing, and
Ebonyi State commissioners have been called to Abuja to
testify. However, Egwu has been recently cleared by the Code
of Conduct Tribunal on charges brought to it against him.
End Note) While people in Ebonyi personally like Egwu as
good-spirited and personable, people tended to take advantage
of his naivete to cheat on contracts in the state, Ukah
commented.
--------------
Egwu Reveals a Surprise Choice
--------------
5. (C) With the opposition weak, the People's Democratic
Party (PDP) gubernatorial primary attracted a panoply of
candidates, Uka said. Primary voters looked for the person
who promised the most money, and for a while former Federal
Minister of Culture Frank Ogbuewu, armed with an impressive
war chest, appeared the favorite. Egwu, noting that Ogbuewu
was a favorite of Anambra State strongman Chris Uba, brother
of Special Presidential Advisor Andy Uba, was concerned about
losing control of the State to the Uba brothers. (reftel)
6. (C) Ogbuewu's appeal proved to be transitory. Uka
explained to Poloff that there are two PDP blocs, the
Abakaliki and the Afikpo blocs. To defeat Ogbuewu, Egwu
chose the previously unheralded Martin Elechi, who is from
the same bloc as Ogbuewu. While Ogbuewu and Senator Emma
Agboti contested the primary, Egwu coerced all other PDP
aspirants to drop out, and he then used his financial muscle
to swing the primary toward Elechi.
7. (C) Vincent Ude-Umanta, Administrative Director of the PDP
Gubernatorial and Presidential campaigns in Ebonyi, said
Elechi's appointment was a complete surprise to Ebonyi
insiders. In his seventies, Elechi's previous governing
experience was as Minister of Public Works for the defunct
East Ebonyi Central State. Uka said Elechi was a key player
in the creation of Ebonyi in 1996. Although Elechi owes his
primary victory to Egwu, observers see differences between
the Governor and his putative successor. Uka and Ude-Umanta
both said Elechi believed more in merit than did Egwu, and
LAGOS 00000248 002.2 OF 002
predicted Elechi would reform the civil service to assure
merit. However, both agreed the question is whether Elechi
can work within the patronage system Egwu created.
--------------
Opposition Forms "Operation Vigilance"
But Unlikely to Defeat Elechi
--------------
8. (C) The opposition appears weak and unable to seriously
challenge the PDP. Uka considered Ogbonnaya Onu of the All
Nigerian People's Party (ANPP) the strongest opposition
candidate. Onu was the former governor of Abia State, but
although Onu has had some large rallies, he lacks the
resources to seriously challenge the PDP machine, Uka
commented.
9. (C) Other opposition parties suffer from similar
limitations. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
showed strength in 2003. While still popular, it has
suffered defections and now appears leaner than before, Uka
said. APGA gubernatorial candidate Anthony Oka, an attorney,
lacks money or the grassroots organization to be competitive.
Progressive People's Alliance (PPA) gubernatorial candidate
Henry Udeh had a strong turnout at a recent rally and Uka
felt the PPA has overtaken APGA in the State. However, the
PPA does not pose a threat to the PDP's dominance.
10. (C) APGA's Oka told Poloff the PDP had planned to
manipulate the vote. Oka complained the Ebonyi government
was using Local Government Council (LGC) funds to fuel its
campaign. According to Oka, the LGC funds were used to
purchase rice for women who will work to tally the vote for
Elechi. To fight this, Oka had invited fellow opposition
candidates to join "Operation Vigilance", which would pool
the opposition's resources to ensure a free and fair
election. This group included all the main opposition
candidates except for Onu, Oka said.
-------------- --------------
Violence Possible, but Elechi Expected to Win Easily
-------------- --------------
11. (C) If free and fair, the election would be very
difficult for the PDP to win, Ukah postulated, because Elechi
was not a prominent candidate and many PDP partisans were
furious at the way Egwu commandeered the primary. Ukah
thought some of the upset PDP primary contenders would lodge
a protest vote, but he predicted the PDP machine would
manipulate the vote to ensure victory.
12. (C) There are indications that violence could occur.
Recently four policemen were kidnapped and two of them were
murdered in Ebonyi. It is unknown who perpetrated this act,
but the Ebonyi government blamed Senator Agboti, Elechi's
primary rival. Ebonyi does have a history of political
violence. In 2003, there was some political violence,
according to Oka. Ude-Umanata, who worked on Lawrence
Nwuruku's campaign when Nwuruku ran on the ANPP ticket in
2003, also commented that violence that year was severe.
--------------
Comment
--------------
13. (C) Although interlocutors referred to Ebonyi as a
politically peculiar state, the patronage system Governor
Egwu employs is a familiar one. PDP domination of Ebonyi,
due to this system, appears set to continue. Opposition
parties engender little respect. Elechi's election appears a
fait accompli. This also should mean that the PDP
presidential candidate should do well in Ebonyi. End comment.
BROWNE