*** Opposition Kicked As NGF Says ‘Soludo’s re-election deserved’
Following his overwhelming success in Saturday’s election, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo declared that the manner of his victory means that elections are getting better in the country.
He alluded to the peaceful and credible poll, his massive win and the improved turnout as evidence of the improvement in the electoral process and the outcome.
He described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a true democrat for providing a level playing field in the contest.
He dedicated himself to service delivery, saying he would move from gear three to four in his second term performance.
Soludo spoke in his hometown Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area, shortly after he was declared the winner by the Returning Officer (RO) and Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof Edoba Omoregie.
Jubilant residents and people from other parts of the state thronged his home to celebrate the result in which he swept into a landslide win across all 21 local government areas.
He won in 320 out of the 326 electoral wards in the state, scoring 72 per cent and amassing 422,662 votes.
All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu came a distant second with 99,445 votes.
Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate Paul Chukwuma garnered 37,753 votes to secure third position.
His Labour Party (LP) counterpart, George Moghalu, scored 10,576 votes as the fourth, and John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 8,208 votes.
The remaining eleven candidates performed abysmally.
Soludo said: “This is a moment to say congratulations to the Anambra People. Four years ago, we were elected with 112,000 votes, but this time you spoke loudly with your votes. This is a show of solidarity and a very emphatic statement.
“Out of 326 wards, we lost only six wards, and we won the entire 21 local governments, and that is a very emphatic statement.
“We are in partnership with people at all levels in the state, and we are matching on to gear four. We are in gear three as it were, and we are moving to gear four. Thanks to the Anambra people for renewing our employment.
“We thank Mr President, he has proven to be a very good democrat. I thank the new INEC chairman (Joash Amupitan).
“It was his first outing, and as the saying goes, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, and you have proven that with this election. Every election year is getting better and better in Anambra.
“Except for a few cases, I think the election was very fair and credible. I thank the ICT (Information Communication Technology) section of INEC, as of Saturday night, they had uploaded up to 99 per cent of the results, and we already knew where the election was going.
“To my brothers (other contestants), I say, we were 16, and obviously, only one person will win.
“We have had fun, we have fought, but we will still meet at functions at weekends and share drinks the Anambra way.
“I extend a hand of fellowship to you, and we will work together to make Anambra better.
“For me, we will work for the Anambra people, and no minute is lost. Ours is an assignment with a deadline.”
Soludo expressed regret that, despite the heavy security witnessed during the election, some miscreants killed an APGA councillor in Owerre-Ezukala, Orumba South Local Government Area.
After speaking, Soludo hit the floor dancing with his family members, APGA chiefs and supporters.
NGF: Soludo’s re-election deserved
A statement by the Governors Forum said: “The clear margin of victory underscores the popularity of the governor and his programmes among Anambrarians.
“We are confident that this deserving victory will enable His Excellency to consolidate on his great achievements across different sectors.
“We also congratulate the people of Anambra and all the stakeholders on the orderly and peaceful conduct of the election — another proof that Nigerians have fully embraced democracy and rule of law as a choice form of governance.
“We also commend the INEC and the security agencies for the orderly electoral process so far,” Chairman of the forum, who doubles as Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said.
Opposition parties reject results
Opposition political parties, including the APC, LP and ADC, rejected the outcome, alleging widespread irregularities, vote buying, intimidation, and violence.
APC candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, said he was still collating information on the conduct of the election.
He alleged that a building belonging to a female APC supporter in Anambra East Local Government Area was burnt down for her loyalty to the party.
He also claimed that several vehicles belonging to APC supporters were vandalised during the campaigns.
“We are still collating data on the election. My major concern is the burning of the house of one of our supporters despite intimidation and harassment,” Ukachukwu said.
ADC state chairman Patrick Obianyo described the results as “a joke,” while the party’s candidate, Nwosu, called the election “a ruse and total subversion of the people’s will.”
He alleged massive vote buying, saying voters were openly induced with cash ranging from N3,000 to N20,000.
“This was not an election but a cash bazaar – a national embarrassment and a loss for democracy,” he said.
ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said the exercise “undermined the essence of democracy,” accusing the incumbent and his party of engaging in “cash-for-votes” in violation of the Electoral Act.
The party also faulted security agencies and electoral officials for their “visible inaction” during the poll.
LP candidate Valentine Moghalu decried the alleged absence of the party’s logo on the ballot paper and reported cases of intimidation and violence.
“There were cases of vote buying and missing result sheets. One of my key supporters was beaten in Idemili North. INEC failed, and security agencies did not live up to their assurances,” he said.
Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner Queen Agwu dismissed the allegations of vote buying as “mere rumours,” urging those making the claims to produce evidence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said three people were arrested for vote buying.
It said the suspects were arrested in Njikoka, Awkuzu and Dukonukofia.
“They will be charged as soon as investigations are concluded,” the commission stated.
The Police Service Commission (PSC) commended the Police for what it described as an “above-average” performance during the election.
PSC monitoring teams reported professional and orderly conduct by officers across the state, noting peaceful voting in areas visited.
