Anambra guber poll: Obiano triumphs

• Crushes Nwoye’s federal might, defeats Peter Obi’s stooge
•Wins landslide victory in 21 LGs
• 5 contestants: Nwoye, Obaze, Chidoka, Okafor lose wards
• Arthur Eze, Ngige, Andy Ubah, Uche Ekwunife, other political gladiators lose LGs

In an unprecedented and historic election, incumbent Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, on Sunday, defeated 37 candidates to emerge as the undisputed winner of the 2017 governorship election in the state.

As projected by The Daily Times in its edition of Friday, November 17, 2017, that Obiano would win his reelection with 63 per cent without any run off, the governor won a landslide victory in all the 21 local government areas of the state.

It is also instructive to note that five of the leading contestants- Tony Nwoye of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oseloka Obaze of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Osita Chidoka of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Lolo Okafor of the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) and Godwin Ezeemo of the Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) lost in their respective wards.

Political gladiators in the state, including a business mogul, Arthur Eze, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, Senators Andy Ubah, Stella Oduah, Uche Ekwunife and other political heavyweights also lost in their local government areas.

The election which took place last Saturday simultaneously in all the 21 local government areas of the state witnessed 37 political parties seeking votes from the electorate.

Obiano, who was the centre of all the political tackles during the run up to the election, swept the polls in all the 21 local government areas of the state as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the state headquarters in Awka, the state capital.

The 1999 Constitution (as amended) requires a governor of a state to win two-thirds of one third of votes spread across the 21 local government areas of the state in order to be declared winner of the election.
Out of the total votes cast, Obiano swept the polls in the 21 local government areas to the disappointment of the opposition.

Announcing the winner at the INEC Headquarters in Awka, the Returning Officer, Prof. Zana Akpagu, said the APGA candidate emerged victorious, having scored a total number of 234, 071 votes.

Others were APC scoring a total of 98,752 votes; PDP – 70293; PPA -2787; UPP-7903 and many more.
According to Akpagu, “Chief Willie Obiano, having satisfied with the requirements of the law is hereby declare the winner.”

The Returning Officer also announced that the total valid vote was 422,314; total vote rejected- 26467, while the total vote cast was 448,771.

Addressing journalists after the declaration of results, the former national chairman of APGA and the Director General of Obiano Re-election Campaign Organisation, Chief Victor Umeh, said that the results of which the governor won by a wide margin showed the confidence which the electorate reposed in Obiano’s administration and his development programmes.

He said that the outcome of the election was not surprising because, according to him, Obiano’s administration brought security in the state while also making progress in all other spheres.

Umeh said: “While other parties were bickering over one thing or the other, APGA was busy working hard and developing the state simultaneously in all sectors of the economy.”

Umeh explained that Obiano’s second term would bring increased development in the state, adding that, “It is expected that the governor will strengthen his achievements in all spheres”.

Congratulating Anambra people for the victory, Umeh said: “Our people appreciate good things. They have paid him back by voting him to continue for the next four years because of his achievements in the first term. It has never been so easy as this in the history of Anambra election”.

On his part, the APC agent, Mr. Chukwunonso Agukwudo, said they will not make any statement on the results, insisting that he will go back to his party for proper deliberation.

He observed that the Returning Officer had pointed out issues of snatching of ballot boxes and mutilation of result sheets as well as over voting, noting that the party would take decision on whether to accept or contest the results.

The agent for the PDP, Mr. Chris Chikelu, said he would report to his party for wide consultation after which they will take a decision.

He, however, observed that the election was the most peaceful in the history of Anambra State even as he congratulated the people for a peaceful conduct.

Meanwhile, the candidate of the UPP, Chief Osita Chidoka, has congratulated Governor Obiano on his victory at the polls, saying that he secured the votes through his financial might.

In a statement on Sunday and personally signed by Chidioka, he said that UPP ran issue-based campaign and won the hearts of the people but lacked the financial muscle to buy over voters.

He, however, said that the party is available to offer assistance to the government of Willie Obiano and will open its doors for consultations and advice.

Baring his mind on what transpired during the buildup to the election, Chidoka said: “When by Thursday a large percentage of our supporters insisted that they will not vote unless we paid them, 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, as they took sides with our party’s considered view that the issue of justice, equity and fairness should be canvassed within Nigeria.

“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.
“But the inner truth is that we won! We won at the most important place; in the hearts of people; our people who saw us toil and push in the arena against all odds; who saw the sincerity of our mission and gave all in support of our quest for collective good. We salute you for your support and personal sacrifices to the campaign.

“We therefore make no apologies for our decision to refrain from money politics and chart a new course for a clean, knowledge-based campaign driven by patriotism. We make no apologies for our campaign philosophies and our positions on momentous issues that directly affect our people. We are proud to have spoken for them.

“However, an important issue has come out of this election. This election represented a referendum on our future. No matter the number that came out to vote, they have made the choice and we do hope that the future we all envisioned for our children and us has not been mortgaged by their action”.

On the way forward, Chidoka said: “The election, with all its evident flaws has come and gone, but now that we have engaged in the political process, we will remain engaged. We will retreat for now but we shall not surrender. We wish the Governor-elect a successful tenure, but we will still be available to point out the way and provide credible alternatives for our people.

“Finally, we thank all our volunteers, party loyalists and teeming supporters from across the state; courageous men and women who labored tirelessly to give wings to our dream. I salute you all.

“We are not discouraged but shall continue to propagate our message of a new Anambra. We shall continue on the course for which we went into the race and we shall continue to believe and work until that new Anambra of our dream is born.

By John Ndu and Nkiru Nwagbo, Awka and Myke Uzendu, Abuja