Criminal Politics: Violence, “Godfathers” and Corruption in Nigeria

Peter Obi was reinstated in February 2007 by the Federal Court of Appeal. But INEC
disqualified Obi from standing in the 2007 elections on a technicality stemming from
a factional dispute within Obi’s APGA party from standing in the 2007 elections. 256
Mobilizing Cult Groups for the 2007 Elections
The 2007 polls were an especially high-stakes affair in Anambra because the PDP
candidate for governor, Andy Uba, reportedly enjoyed the strong political backing of
President Obasanjo. Andy Uba had served as an influential Special Advisor to
Obasanjo for most of his eight years as president. Voicing a common complaint
among many activists and community leaders in Anambra, one member of the
state’s Elders Forum alleged that Obasanjo “wants to award Andy Uba the
governorship of Anambra for having served him well for 7 ½ years” whether the
people of Anambra wanted him or not. 257
Andy Uba is the brother of Chris Uba, and his designs on the governor’s office
caused a rift between the two. Andy Uba took over the Anambra State PDP in a move
Chris Uba described as a “coup” and installed Tony Nwoye, a former student union
leader, as state chairman of the party. 258 In interviews with Human Rights Watch,
numerous sources including police officials, a spokesman for Governor Peter Obi,
opposition politicians and cult members identified Nwoye as a prominent member of
the Black Axe cult.
According to press reports, opposition complaints and police sources in Anambra,
Andy Uba’s campaign appeared to be unusually well-funded, and Nwoye
immediately set about mobilizing funds to recruit thugs to ensure Andy Uba’s victory
in the PDP primaries in December 2006. 259 Human Rights Watch interviewed several
cult members who were described how they were paid to rig the primaries in Uba’s
favor by stuffing ballot boxes and chasing off legitimate voters. For example, one
256 Patrick Ugeh, et al. “Court Condemns INEC on Anambra Guber List” This Day, March 20, 2007.
257 Human Rights Watch interview, Enugu, February 12, 2007.
258 Chris Uba complained to Human Rights Watch that all of the state PDP officials allied to him were ousted from office while
Uba was on vacation in California. Human Rights Watch interview, Enugu, February 12, 2007.
259 Human Rights Watch interviews with PDP legislators, opposition candidates, police officials and others, Awka and Enugu,
February 2007.
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