The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the upcoming Anambra State governorship election, Chief Jude Ezenwafor, has outlined his priorities if elected, promising to address critical issues including insecurity, education, infrastructure, and economic growth.
Speaking during an interactive session with the League of Anambra Journalists (LAJA) in Abuja, Ezenwafor said his government would adopt practical, results-driven strategies to curb insecurity in the state.
“In Anambra State today there are challenges of insecurity and everyone is concerned about. I intend to adopt a more result-oriented strategy to tackle it,” he said.
The PDP candidate also expressed concern over over-taxation, which he said is stifling businesses and worsening poverty in the state.
“The people of the state are groaning over what I describe as over-taxation, which is crippling businesses and further impoverishing the populace,” he noted.
Ezenwafor promised to create a more business-friendly environment, adding that his administration would ensure greater ease of doing business and promote domestic and external investment.
He further pledged to mobilize the influence and resources of notable Anambra indigenes to improve the state’s economic outlook.
Touching on transportation, the candidate criticized the high cost of air travel into Anambra through the state’s airport, which he said remains higher than neighboring states, despite its importance.
“I wonder why the state government has failed to look into the disproportionate hike in the cost of air tickets for airlines coming into the Anambra airport,” he said.
Ezenwafor, who is still recovering from an assassination attempt in Abuja, recounted how he narrowly escaped death.
The attack occurred shortly after he left the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, where he stopped to buy bitter kola from a roadside vendor.
“Only God saved me from being killed,” he said, describing how gunmen opened fire on him at close range.
On his chances in the November 8 election, Ezenwafor said he’s confident of victory despite what critics say about his profile.
“Contrary to insinuations about my capability, I have made quite an appreciable impact in business, politics, and governance,” he stated.
“My election plan is highly coded and is so unique that by the time I win, others will need to come to me for tutorials on how to contest elections,” he added.
He also noted the rare unity in the PDP’s primary process, pointing out that for the first time in the party’s history in Anambra, there were no petitions or court disputes following the primary election.
Responding to questions about the zoning arrangement in Anambra which many believe favors Anambra South, Ezenwafor, from Anambra Central, said the PDP never formally adopted zoning, and that it was an initiative of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
“In all the previous governorship elections in Anambra State, candidates from different zones had always participated,” he said.
“My emergence is more of a divine call. It is not disruptive in any way.”
Ezenwafor maintained that he is not desperate about winning at all costs.
“I am not desperate about it. I do not see the governorship election as a do-or-die affair. But I will give my best to it,” he declared.
However, he noted that if there were irregularities in the electoral process, he would challenge the outcome in court.
“If at the end of the contest, our people choose another person as their choice, I will accept their decision. However, if there is a flaw in the process, I will not hesitate to go to court to seek redress,” he concluded.
