INEC, security outfits will determine success of Anambra guber poll –Umeh

The Governor Obiano Re-election Campaign Organisation has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security operatives to ensure that the November 18, 2017 Anambra State governorship election is successful.

The chairman of the campaign organisation and former national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, made the call on Thursday while addressing newsmen on their campaign flag-off.

Umeh said two groups will make for the success of the election and that is the impartiality of the umpire and the conduct of security operatives.

Umeh said: “Allowing the votes of the people to count is the major ingredient for the success of the election. INEC will make or mar the election. If INEC wants to be impartial, this election will be successful”.

He said the security operatives should allow the election to be conducted under peaceful atmosphere and protect the integrity of the election.

“Don’t allow politicians to intimidate the electorate. Politicians should eschew desperation”, said Umeh, who condemned the alleged utterances of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Johm Oyegun, who allegedly boasted in a media report that APC must win the forthcoming governorship election.

He said such statement coming from Oyegun is not democratic, saying that with what APGA has done in the state, they were sure of victory at the poll.

Umeh dismissed the alleged N7billion campaign expenses for Obiano by the former Governor fo the state, Mr. Peter Obi, in 2013 governorship election, saying that neither Obiano nor APGA is owing Obi any money.

He said Obi who made about N50 billion from security votes in eight years could have not sold his property to fund Obiano’s election.

He said they had fundraising in Lagos, Abuja, Port Hacourt and Enugu for Obiano campaign but Obi up till now has not rendered account of the money realised in those fundraising.

Umeh said Obi left a total debt of N185 billion on road construction alone and employed 6000 workers at the twilight of his administration.

“This is the time tell the truth. I was there at Governor’s lodge where Obi gave Obiano handover note. There was no issue of N75 billion left for Obiano. Some of the money left include bonds, some of them cannot be accessed until 2030,”said Umeh.