#AnambraElection: APGA’s Obiano thanks INEC for providing a level playing ground

The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate Chief Willie Obiano has described last Saturday governorship election as a sign of great things to come to the state. 

Chief Obiano was speaking to journalists at his home town of Aguleri in Anambra East council area yesterday. Chief Obiano said the outcome of the election had confirmed that people of the state could forge a common front and take their destiny in their hands. 

He noted that the electorate had made a strong statement through the decision to vote massively for a candidate of their choice. The APGA candidate said the election was free and fair and thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for providing a conducive environment, and INEC for offering a level playing ground for all political parties as well as security agencies for maintaining law and order. 

He equally thanked the people of the state for their orderly conduct during the election and for giving him massive support and APGA for finding him worthy to fly its flag. Chief Obiano enjoined areas involved in the coming supplementary polls to participate actively and ensure peaceful conclusion of the exercise.

 In the The State Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Elder Chris Elumuno said the socio and cultural organization was satisfied with the conduct of the election as INEC provided a level playing ground for political parties and followed due process and lay down rules in the conduct of the election process. Earlier Elumuno who is also the President General of Nkwelle Ezunaka Town Union, explained that electoral materials arrived early in their areas and every eligible voter had opportunity to exercise their franchise. 

He enjoined those who lost the election to accept the result in good faith as the contest was not a do or die affair as they had no right to call for cancellation when the people of the state have made their choice. A former governor of the State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife said the election was fair, credible and violence-free. He emphasized that nobody should call for cancellation when INEC was already preparing for a supplementary elections to correct whatever hitches perceived. Also speaking, the President General of Association of Town Unions, ASATU, Dr. Innocent Onwubuya said INEC conducted commendable election that reflected the will of the people and enjoined the areas where supplementary election will be conducted to participate actively.

 The Traditional ruler of Nteje, Igwe Renald Odegbo also commended INEC and security agencies for proper conducts of the exercise, while thanking President Goodluck Jonathan for providing a conducive environment for a hitch-free election. Igwe Odegbo noted that the result at hand represent the decision of the people and recorded that those who are calling for cancellation were only trying to smear the image of the State. He also said that some people that planned to rig, but were stopped by the vigilance of security agencies were the people crying foul. Also presenting the stand of 16 political parties, the Chaiman of Congress for Progressive Change ( CPC), Prince Chuba Ikeagwu said they would also back INEC in its proposed supplementary elections for the conclusion of the governorship election to enable INEC declare the result without further delay so that the state could move forward. They commended INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders for conducting a peaceful election without loss of life and destruction of properties in the State. 

The political parties assured that they would give total support to whoever emerged the winner of the election. In his contribution, the State Chairman of KOWA, Evangelist Isaac Omouka said the election was free and fair and there was no ground for the call for cancellation nor resignation of INEC officials. 

Evangelist Onwuka stressed that the collective interest of the state should be placed above every other considerations. Also speaking, the State Chairman of ACD, Mrs. Oby Okafor enjoined INEC to conduct the supplementary election as soon as possible to declare the winner of the election. Speaking in a similar vein, the state Chairman of National Conscience Party (NCP), Sir Peter Okala said everybody should accept and support the outcome of the election as the will and mandate of the people should not be compromised.