All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has attributed its Anambra governorship election victory to the “larger-than-life image” of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, the former leader of the party.
Dr Victor Oye, the APGA National Chairman, stated this in an open letter entitled “Letter to Ojukwu” he issued in Awka on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) recalls that Ojukwu died six years ago in the UK after a brief illness, aged 78.
“All of us in APGA sorely miss you, Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, our indefatigable leader for life.
“Your footprints in the sands of time remain an inerasable testimony of your accomplishments while on earth.
“Your selflessness, oratory, courage, aplomb, and aristocracy singled you out from your contemporaries.
“The anniversary of your transmutation into glory coincided with the tsaunamic victory achieved by APGA with Gov. Willie Obiano.
“Contrary to the fear and trepidation that loomed before the election, APGA conquered the political landscape of Anambra State like a colossus,” he said.
The national chairman gave an assurance that the party would continue to uphold the principles upon which APGA was founded.
“We know you are happy where you are, because you left your house in order before the journey to the great beyond.
“We assure you that we will keep the light you lit burning, no matter the intractability of whatever challenges we are made to confront.”
Oye said that Obiano, by his resounding victory, had re-defined election in Nigeria.
He gabe an assurance that APGA, under his chairmanship, was ready to make more histories.
“We pray God to grant your soul continued peace in heaven,” Oye stated.
Source
NAN
Despite the minor hitches observed in the just concluded Anambra elections, the election was adjudged by election observers as peaceful, orderly, free and fair and credible.
This, the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria and APC chieftain, Osita Okechukwu, attributed to President Buhari’s commitment to free and fair elections. Okechukwu decried the alleged arrest of his party’s chairman in Anambra State, Emeka Ibe, on the eve of the election. Such arrest would never have happened in previous administrations, Okechukwu claimed.
President Buhari – who had always complained of unfair treatments in elections most of his political career – sent a strong message before the elections when he ordered the reinstatement of Governor Willie Obiano’s security, after they were removed because of a flimsy excuse. This was a visible departure from the past.
For example, former Governor Chris Ngige had his security removed after he was abducted and attempted to castigate the powers at the federal level. A few days to the 2007 election, former Governor Ahmed Tinubu’s ADC was removed. The former speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, also suffered similar fate in 2014, after he fell out with the presidency. The list is endless. Nigeria’s security personnel always went against perceived opponents of the ruling party in electoral and political matters.
And many politicians depended on this kind of support to win elections. (Luckily, just as the vice president said last week, President Buhari doesn’t look like the kind of leader you could discuss personal and selfish deals with).
In fact, the 2015 startling disclosure of the purported Ekiti rigging tape showed how a person, who is in control of security at the centre, could use it for personal gains. Respected human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, argued that the reason the 2015 general election was postponed was because the military connived with the then PDP-led government to force it on the then INEC chairman when they discovered that the Ekiti rigging tape had exposed their antics. According to the lawyer, they planned to use these antics in the general election.
Though this claim might not have been substantially proven, the point still remains that Nigeria’s history of election militarisation—i.e. the excessive use of the army and police in the guise of ensuring peaceful elections — has not always augured well for the country.
But this was not the case in Anambra. The Police Service Commission has openly commended the members of the police force who were dispatched to Anambra.
Anyone who has observed elections in Nigeria would agree that the real commendation should go to President Buhari. This election is a plus for the president because he allowed the will of the people even though he would have loved his party to win. In Nigeria, the president’s body language dictates the direction the security forces go.
However, there is still much to be desired in our electoral processes. Cases where people are found with huge sums of money at polling units should be dealt with. Every stakeholder should come out openly to condemn and put to an end the unfortunate acts of voter inducement with plates of food and cash at polling units. No one should take advantage of the widespread poverty in the land to comprise our electoral processes.
Most importantly, the massive endorsement given to Governor Willie Obiano should motivate him to do more, in terms sustainable development in the state. It is heartwarming that the governor has the support of Professor Chukwuma Soludo, an erudite scholar and economist, who is also well-versed in the science of sustainable development.
Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has congratulated Anambra Governor Willie Obiano for his landmark victory in Saturday’s election.
He said that the results clearly showed that connection to the people was key to winning an election.
Fayose also hailed the conduct of the poll, describing the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies as above average and a sign that the electoral umpire was listening to the cries of Nigerians for a return to the legacy of free, fair and credible elections inherited by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
In a statement by his spokesman, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said;
“Even though there were reports of malfunctioning of card readers, number of votes exceeding number of accredited voters and pockets of violence as well as buying of votes, the Anambra governorship election was better than others conducted by INEC under the present government of APC.”
The governor, who urged INEC to pay more attention to the malfunctioning of card readers, said,
“By now, INEC ought to have resolved all issues on card readers because it does not augur well for the electoral process and INEC itself if we are still being faced with failure of card readers on election day.”
The governor hailed observers, both local and international for ensuring that the election was relatively credible, urging them to focus more attention on the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti and Osun States.
“Particularly, we will be having governorship election here in Ekiti on July 14, 2018. I want both local and international observers to be involved before and during the election because what the people of Ekiti State desire is freedom to choose their governor.
“In 2018, we should no longer be talking about failure of card readers, late arrival of electoral materials at polling units and other problems identified during the Anambra election,” he said.
Describing credible electoral process as the only way democracy can be sustained in the country, Governor Fayose said
“even elected public officers will have no option than to deliver democracy dividends to the people if there is assurance that votes will count.”
Chief Osita Chidoka, United Progressive Party (UPP) governorship candidate, has accepted defeat even before INEC’s final declaration of the winner. Chidoka, the former Minister of Aviation, accepted the defeat in a statement entitled “Politics Anambra election: Why I lost polls” in Awka on Sunday.
“I have accepted defeat in the Anambra governorship election even as result is still being announced by the INEC,” he said.
Chidoka said that he lost because he would not play the usual money politics.
“Our campaign attracted the finest and brightest of Anambra.
“The bold and the courageous were with us as we exerted our best in running the most robust issue-based and technology-driven campaign in the history of our dear state.
‘We attempted to change the course of events and chart a new beginning for our state.
“We believed and we dared; we engaged with all patriotic vigour as we held strongly that the long awaited time for our people to experience a new opportunity had come and we laboured for it.
“In all, our focus was the people; the forgotten, the poor and the disadvantaged.
“They were the prime impetus for our involvement. We beheld their agony and we strived to redirect and vent that energy through a genuine political process.”
He said the the UPP heard the complaints of the people and worked to redirect them from the streets to the ballot box.
Chidoka said the he rejected god-fatherism and money politics and made personal sacrifices with small donations and goodwill of a few good men and women.
He said his campaign remained issues-based, adding that he did not attack anybody before, during and after the campaigns.
“But from the ballots, we heard the voice of our people. We heard it loud and clear.
“On November 18 our people announced strongly their rejection of politicians.
“They traded their votes because they doubted we would truly represent their interest.
“While our message resonated with the people they doubted that the political class cared about them. They voted for the highest bidder.”
Chidoka said that as at Thursday, a large percentage of his supporters insisted that they would not vote unless he brought money.
According to him, “I insisted we will not pay for votes. The decision not to pay ended our good run.
“We accept the voters’ decision. We also heard our people by their turnout and transactional approach.
“In all, we hold our heads high; high because we did not lose the poll due to paucity of ideas or lack of “structure”.
“We lost to superior financial firepower. As Democrats, we concede to the voters’ choices.
“The true hallmark of democracy is the respect for the voice of the ballot as that of the majority,” Chidoka said.
In his words, God gives power to who he chooses, I accept the results myself and congratulate my brother Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano on his victory. but it may not be the stand of the party because they may decide to go to the tribunal.
I am sure that INEC really compromised, imagine where the party chairman was arrested on the dawn of the election, party member arrested across the state.
According to the party chairman, The party reported massive irregularities and manipulations.
The results announced was online as at 4pm yesterday even when collation has not finished.
The issues some places were left unattended, card readers didnt work credibly, They just bribed the electoral umpire’s ad-hoc staff and wrote the results on their own.
Nevertheless, The candidate called on all his supporters to stay calm despite acknowledging the connivance of the security and INEC staffs
The state publicity secretary of the party has this to say:
It has been a hectic contest and INEC declared a winner. However, neither the party APC, nor the candidate has had time to review a full compilation of field reports on the election and any congratulatory message by members of our party would be hasty, to avoid being inconsistent.
Remember that should the party decide to use the information at its disposal now to press an election tribunal case, an early congratulatory message could be used against you.
We used that of Late Dora Akunyili against her in 2011,w hen she later went to the tribunal. Chukwuma Soludo regretted his early ‘gentlemanly’ statement in 2010, and could no longer pursue a case when he discovered a basis for doing so in his reports and results.
In this election many APC leaders were arrested and some stripped naked. Let’s tread with caution as yet.
Therefore, we can drift into other areas of politics or even life, but please allow the party and the candidate be the arrowhead in matters connected to the election.
Thank you for all your support and heroic sacrifices
Dr Chike Obidigbo, has congratulated Gov Willie Obiano on his victory at the just concluded November 18, governorship election.
Dr Obidigbo, who was an APC governorship aspirant and a leader in Anambra North senatorial zone canvassed vigorously for zoning and made a strong case for the completion of the remaining four years of Anambra north senatorial zone.
In a statement at his country home at Umunya, Dr Obidigbo said, “as an elder statesman and one who fought relentlessly and promoted the rotation of political power to benefit Anambra North political zone from 2014 till 2022, l feel satisfied that the dream is fulfilled.”
Dr Obidigbo charged Gov Obiano to see his victory as an act of God and use the renewed mandate to serve the good of Anambra State.
“Power belongs to God, and that the whole essence of power is to touch lives positively and to leave society better than one finds it”, Dr Obidigbo reiterated.
He therefore, congratulated Gov Obiano and wished him well as he pilots the affairs of the state in the next four years.
The elder statesman thanked Ndi Anambra for coming out to vote and commended INEC, security agencies and the Federal government for a peaceful outcome of the poll.
He equally advised the governor to be magnanimous in victory. “Gov Obiano should extend the hands of brotherhood and friendship to all other candidates irrespective of party differences and form a govt that would help him drive the state positively.”
Signed:
Eneh Victor Chigozie
For: Dr Chike Obidigbo
Osisioma Igbo.
Statement Attributable to Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, PDP Governorship Candidate on the election results in Anambra State
The Anambra State governorship election results just released by INEC, does not reflect the realities of the votes cast on 18 November by the Anambra electorate.
The over voting and inconsistencies between the counted ballots and card reader data remains exceedingly worrisome.
The uniformity of the incumbent governor wining twenty-one local governments is a political aberration in the context of Anambra politics.
The election results as reported, shows that nothing matters to the Anambra electorate. The people have spoken. They have taken a cursory long term view of what they wish for Anambra State.
OHO Media Team
Awka
Governor Willie Obiano has described his victory in last Saturday's Governorship election in the state as a solid resolve by Ndi Anambra to rise above varying interests and take full control of their destiny.
The governor disclosed this in an acceptance speech in an acceptance speech titled "Time to Build a New world" which he made after he was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Governor Obiano who maintained that the victory belongs to every Igbo man who is concerned about the place of Ndigbo in the nation's polity, said in the next four years, APGA will make in-roads into other SouthEast and South South states.
The governor called on his co-contestants in the election to see the result as a victory for the entire Ndi Anambra, restating that the interest of State is bigger than their private ambitions and urging them to join hands with him to build a better place for the people.
He said by the victory, Ndi Anambra have demonstrated that they are capable of taking charge of their lives and making difficult decisions that will brighten their future.
While describing the mandate as a historic call not to relent until the state has fully assumed the status of the model state of Nigeria, Governor Obiano said the victory is the final product of the combined efforts of brilliant men and women who sacrificed their personal comfort to ensure that Anambra’s steady march to progress is not derailed.
The governor expressed gratitude to all members of APGA for their steadfastness, the INEC for conducting a transparent election and the law enforcement agencies whose alertness ensured that the people's mandate is not thwarted and charged the people to prepare for the speedy transformation of the State into a prosperous sub-national entity in the next four years.
According to him, the state has stepped into its finest hour and it's journey into greatness is now assured, saying his government is open to new ideas and vision and is willing to work with anyone who has something to share.
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