The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Willie Obiano, is set to be re-elected governor of Anambra State following the election conducted in the state yesterday.
The incumbent governor raced to an early lead in yesterday’s poll and retained the momentum, leading most watchers to give him the victory.
Though no official results had been released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the time of going to press, however, our correspondent said that going by his general observations and the information he gathered from different election watchers, Obiano was coasting home to victory.
Also, INEC officials who sought anonymity because they were not authorised to speak for the electoral umpire, told our correspondence Sunday that the governor was winning the election.
On the conduct of the poll, both Obiano and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, commended INEC and the security agencies for their conduct in yesterday’s governorship election in the state, stating that the poll was generally free and fair.
But the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Tony Nwoye, and another chieftain of the party and minister of labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, have described the governorship poll as characterised by irregularities and accused the security agencies of aiding APGA chieftains to rig the election.
Obiano cast his vote at his Eri Primary School polling unit 004, Aguleri town, Anambra East local government area at about 9:57 am.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after casting his vote, Obiano expressed optimism that he would win the election, adding that APGA will sweep the polls in most of the polling units, if not in all, across the state.
Obiano said, “I am very happy. I see voters eagerly waiting to cast their votes. I am very confident that I will win the election with a landslide victory. I urge all my supporters to come out, queue and cast their votes.”
He, however, noted that he was informed about minor incidents in some places like Ihiala in Ihiala local government area, but that overall there was peace and tranquillity across the state.
Also, the PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Obaze, voted in his polling unit at St. Mary’s Catholic Church playground in his Ochuche-Umuodu country home at about 1.30pm. Speaking to newsmen shortly after voting, Obaze expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious if the election was not manipulated during collation.
He praised the manner voting was conducted, saying that both INEC and security agencies discharged their duties responsibly.
However, not all the candidates are singing the praise of INEC and the security agencies.
The APC candidate, Tony Nwoye, expressed concern that his supporters were being intimidated by APGA supporters with the aid of security operatives.
He told newsmen, after casting his vote at about 11.42am at Ofianta village square polling unit 002, Nsugbe Ward 1, in Anambra East local government in the area, that security operative had arrested some people he identified as APGA chieftains for electoral malpractices.
Nwoye, however, expressed confidence that with what was on the ground, he would win the election.
On his part, Labour and Employment minister, Dr Chris Ngige, told journalists during an interview, after casting his vote at Alor polling unit 9, Idemili North local government area, Anambra Central senatorial zone, that APC supporters were denied the opportunity to cast their votes by some policemen and military personnel in connivance with APGA chieftains in Idemili North and Idemili South local government areas.
He alleged, for instance, that in Abatete town, one APGA stalwart, Chief Ifeanyi Ibezim, in the company of policemen, invaded polling booths and chased people away, adding that the same thing happened at Nkpor area.
Ngige said: “The aim of chasing people away is to frustrate election in my stronghold. If they succeed, we have no choice than to ask for cancellation of results in these areas.
“”This happened in 2013 where there was no voting in Idemili South and Ogbaru when INEC fixed rescheduled election on a Sunday when many people were in church.
“I suspect foul play in Idemili North, led by Ifeanyi Ibezim; even the state government gave him security.”
He, however, stated that the matter had been reported to the police.
Our correspondent who monitored the election also reports the incidence of widespread vote buying and voter inducement by the various political parties and their agents.
So, the unofficial results released so far is as follows:
Onitsha North LG Final Result:
APC = 3,808
APGA = 10,138
PDP= 4,143
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Awka South LG Final Result:
APC = 6,122
APGA = 20,140
PDP= 5,490
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Njikoka LG Final Result:
APC = 5,756
APGA = 16,944
PDP= 3,477
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Ayamelum LG Final Result:
APC = 5,412
APGA = 14,593
PDP= 2,323
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Awka South LG Final Result:
APC = 6,122
APGA = 20,140
PDP= 5,490
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Aguata LG Final Result:
APC = 5,807
APGA = 13,167
PDP= 4,073
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Orumba South LG Final Result:
APC = 3,808
APGA = 8,125
PDP= 2,412
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Anaocha LG Final Result:
APC = 5,297
APGA = 11,237
PDP= 6,554
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