 |
APGA
governorship candidate in Anambra State, Willie Obiano, after voting at Eri
Primary School Polling unit 004 in Aguleri, during the Governorship Election
yesterday
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●Nwoye, Obaze Trail Behind,
●Voters Shun IPOB’s Call For Boycott, ●Election Adjudged
Peaceful With Massive Turnout
The ruling All
Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) took an early lead in the Anambra
gubernatorial election held yesterday.
Daily
Trust report continues:
Early
results show incumbent Governor Willie Obiano and his APGA clinching victory in
most of the polling units which results have been announced since voting closed
Saturday evening. With the All Progressives Congress (APC) chasing by some
margin and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following closely behind.
The
election had proceeded without catastrophic hitches that marred previous
elections, earning the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and
security agencies the praise of most of the candidates and their parties.
Residents
of the state turned out in large numbers in most of the polling units to cast
their votes, disregarding calls and threats by the proscribed Indigenous People
of Biafra (IBOP) for people to boycott the elections.
There
had been palpable tension and apprehension in the state ahead of the elections,
following series of threat statements by the pro-Biafra group.
However,
buoyant crowds trooped quite early to the polling stations, voted and stayed to
ensure that their votes were counted. Most of them waited until results were
announced at their polling units before they left.
However,
the election was not entirely without drama as Governor Obiano came under fire
from election observers and civil society groups for addressing the electorate
at the Eri Primary School, Unit 004, Otuocha 1, Aguleri, Anambra East, after he
cast his votes at 10am Saturday.
The
governor was said to have gone to the unit with a public address system and
addressed the electorate in what activists said was a clear violation of
the electoral laws.
Abiola
Akiyode of the Transition Monitoring Group, condemned the governor’s action
describing it as a “temptation” the governor should have avoided.
“The
most worrisome aspect (of this election) is that the governor came with a
microphone to address the people. I think it is a sort of campaign. Since I
have been observing, I have never seen any governor go to that extent to talk
to people on election day. I think he should have avoided the temptation even
if people are pushing him to do something”, she said.
However,
while addressing journalists, the governor expressed confidence in the process
and his party’s ability to carry the day by a landslide.
Obiano
who voted at about 9.57am after accreditation, complained that the card reader
could not capture his fingerprints, but said he was able to vote eventually as
his voter card was verified by the device.
He
also expressed satisfaction at the large turnout of voters, but noted that
there were cases of security lapses in few areas, assuring that the security
agencies were on top the situation.
In
areas where Daily Trust correspondents monitored the polls, such as Umudim Ward
II in Umudim Central School, Nnewi North, APGA got 260 while APC
had 80. Also, at Uzoanunu Ward II in Anaocha Local Government, APGA scored 68
and APC received 8 votes. APGA also swept the votes in most polling centres at
Aguleri, Governor Willie Obiano’s stronghold.
However,
the APC was in early lead in such places as Alor, Senator Chris Ngige’s home,
Nsugbe - the home of APC’s governorship candidate, Dr Tony Nwoye and
Ukpo, the hometown of Prince Arthur Eze, who is believed to have funded Nwoye’s
campaign.
At
Umudim Central School, Nnewi North, the polling unit where the family of the
late Biafran leader and founder of APGA, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu voted, there
was some expectation of drama following the defection of the late strongman’s
son, Emeka Ojukwu Jr, from APGA to the APC, with the façade of the Ojukwu
family residence plastered with the campaign poster of APC’s Victor Nwoye with
Ojukwu’s picture inserted.
However
the last laugh belonged to Mrs, Bianca Ojukwu, widow of the late APGA
chieftain, who expressed joy over APGA’s triumph at the poling unit when the
party returned with 261 votes as opposed to the APC’s 98 and the PDP’s 80.
But
the APC got one over the ruling party at Ekwueme Hall polling units of Ukpo,
Dunukofia LGA, home of Prince Arthur Eze, sponsor of the APC candidate where
the party secured 409 votes to APGA’s 102 and PDP’s 15.
Minister
for Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, also secured his polling unit for
the APC in Nkwoide ward 1 where the part scored 152 votes to APGA’s 68 and
PDP’s 22.
Specifically,
at Nkwo Ide Public Square I polling centre at Alor, Idemili North Local
Government, APC scored 35 while APGA had 12 votes. APC also received 104 votes
while APGA got 35 at Ukpo Ekwueme Hall (I) in Dunukofia Local Government Area.
But
while Governor Obiano expressed satisfaction on the peaceful conduct of the
election and enjoined his supporters to come out en masse to vote, Dr Nwoye
complained that his agents were arrested at some polling booths.
Former
National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, however, appealed to the
Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to make sure that the results of the
poll which the people “witnessed in the day time will also be the same result
the INEC should release in the night.”
Most
of the polling units visited by our correspondents recorded large turnout of
voters, except in few places.
At
Ezebe, Umuodu, polling 007, for instance, voting started as early as 8:43am
with voters casting their votes. An eyewitness, Emmanuel Okoye, said, “For the
moment, it is going on fine but I cannot tell what may happen. I hope
everything keeps on moving fine”, he said.
At
Ebe Irunono Square 3, with, 004 polling, voting commenced a bit late due to
late arrival of election materials, which the Presiding Officer attributed to
transportation problems, while at Ovala Square 013 Polling Unit, Igbariam,
Anambra East, witnessed card reader challenge.
Osaeloka
Obaze, the PDP’s candidate in the election described the exercise as peaceful
which he said was gratifying but decried the low turnout in some areas.
“If
that of the capital territory could be excused for mass movement of electorate
to their home towns for the election, what of in the hinterland?” he
queried.
The
PDP gubernatorial hopeful said he chose to cast his vote towards the end of the
exercise to allow him monitor the process across the state.
At
Ndikelionwu in Orumba North, INEC officials were seen leaving for their various
polling booths with heavy presence of security personnel.
At
the Afor Agbala Ward 4 Centre, Ezi-Awka. INEC officials claim to have been
working all night. Evidence seems to bear them out. A police sergeant claimed
to have been there since 06:30 hours. This is the ward for the Transition
Chairman for Awka South LG, Hon. Leo Nwuba.
Bits
of bother
Despite
the overwhelming success of the conduct of the polls, there were some incidents
that if they had been more widespread could have marred the success of the
polls.
In
the commercial city of Onitsha, electoral officials arrived ahead of the 8 a.m
voting schedule, while there was no voter as at 8:30 a.m. The presiding
Officer, Miss Peace Onah, who claimed she slept at the unit, said, “INEC
officials were ready, but no voter had shown up as at 8:30 a.m.
At
Unit 008 and 014 in Ado Girls Secondary School, Inland Town, Onitsha, materials
and officials were yet to arrive.
Transportation
difficulties almost scuttled the planning of the election officials as
materials arrived late to unit 005 and at Permanent Site Market
2.
A
traditional ruler in Otuocha 1 (Polling 001), Chief Eddy Okoye (Onanze
Aguleri), had described the process as peaceful and orderly, as well as the
best ever witnessed in the history of the community.
He
expressed joy at the absence of any undue interference from IPOB members and
security agents.
Our
correspondents however observed some party agents of one of the major political
parties secretly canvassing for votes, distributing various gift items to the
voters, including cash sums and pairs of slippers to voters after ensuring that
beneficiaries voted for their party.
One
of the voters was sighted being approached by party agents with N1,000 and a
pair of rubber slippers to vote for his party.
Money
and snacks were also distributed to voters at three polling units in Ukpo,
Dunukofia LGA.
On
alleged vote buying, Obaze absolved his party, the PDP, from the allegation,
saying it was the duty of INEC to monitor such development.
“My
team and I are not involved in any way. We’re not interested in buying votes
because we have campaigned vigorously. It is lack of confidence that push
people into such actions,” he said.
Although
the election was generally peaceful even with the huge turnout of voters, there
was fracas at Nneofor Hall Polling Centre at Otolo Nnewi in Nnewi North Council
Area-one of the strongholds of APGA-as APC agents allegedly attempted to snatch
ballot boxes but were prevented by the timely intervention of the police, who
shot into the air to scare the intruders.
It
was gathered that the police arrested two suspected thugs working for an APGA
when they tried to dictate to INEC officials how to go about their official
duties. The thugs were said to have been confronted by the youths in the area
who reportedly invited security men to intervene.
However,
the general consensus on the election has been positive with Mr. Ali Janga, the
commissioner of Police in Kogi State, who is on special election duty in
Anambra, describing the conduct of the poll as peaceful.
“The
election has been peaceful. So far so good, no arrest has been made,” he said.
Also
speaking, The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most rev. Paulinus Okafor,
expressed satisfaction with the manner the electorate conducted themselves.
He
said the large turnout of voters was an indication that the electorate still
have confidence in the entire process, just as he hailed the INEC for
correcting the mistakes of the past, including conducting an organised poll.
While
appealing to the electoral umpire not to betray the confidence reposed in them,
he urged them to respect the wishes of the masses by declaring the worthy
winner.
However,
another candidate in the elections, Godwin Ezeemo expressed worry over the late
arrival of INEC officials in Umuchu, a development he described as a gang up
against him.
Regardless,
the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief
Victor Umeh said his party was already coasting to victory with landslide
margin in almost all the wards in the state, with the exception of few.
“I
have absolute confidence in the leadership of INEC under Mamood Yakubu, having
listened carefully to him the day he addressed stakeholders. I read his lips
and saw truth in what he said,” he said at his Amawbia residence.
While
scoring the commission above average, he said the electoral umpire would write
its name in gold if it replicates what it did in the state in the 2019 general
election.
According
to him, the new arrangement in the system, particularly the security marks in
the ballot papers makes it impossible to clone, coupled with the variation of
the ballot papers.
He
also commended the security agencies, particularly the DIG Operations for their
wonderful performance, contrary to insinuations across some
quarters.
“He
really lived up to expectations. Nobody was intimidated or harassed, not even
the INEC officials or the electorate. They concentrated on their assignment of
watching over the entire environment,” Oye added.
He
said any attempt to announce a contrary result would throw the entire country
into anarchy.
As
at the time of filing in this report, counting of votes was still going on at
the various collating centres.
Below is
the breakdown of the results so far released by INEC.
Idemili
South:
APC – 4,
063
APGA- 5742
PDP – 2629
Ogbaru
APC – 3,415
APGA –
6,615
PDP – 4,416
Onitsha
North
APC – 3,808
APGA –
10,138
PDP – 4,143
Aguata
APC – 5,807
APGA- 13,
167
PDP – 4,073
Ekwusigo
APC – 5,412
APGA – 8595
PDP – 3856
Orumba
South
APC- 3808
APGA –
8,125
PDP – 2412
Anaocha
APC – 5297
APGA –
11,237
PDP – 6,554
Dunukofia
APC – 7,016
APGA –
8,575
PDP – 1,530
Ayamelum
APC – 5,412
APGA – 14,
593
PDP – 2,323
Awka South
APC – 6,167
APGA –
18,957
PDP – 5,354
Njikoka
APC – 5,756
APGA –
16,966
PDP – 4,377
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