Posted by By Sun News Publishing on
Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi, on Sunday insisted that Saturday elections did not hold in the state and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the people were not denied the right to vote.
Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi, on Sunday insisted that Saturday elections did not hold in the state and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the people were not denied the right to vote.
"No elections took place in Anambra State," he maintained, adding: "We hope that INEC will resolve the issue dispassionately by upholding the people's right to vote."
A statement personally signed by the governor said there were reports of non-availability of INEC officials and electoral materials in most parts of the state on Saturday, a situation that ensured that many people were unable to exercise their franchise.
"In the South Senatorial Zone of my State, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was at his Polling Unit till 3:30pm but no voting took place. Chief Simon Okeke, the former Chairman of the Police Service Commission did not vote because elections did not take place in his ward. Chief Okeke, who even went personally to his Local Government Area Headquarters in search of INEC officials, said he met only the cleaner beside whom voting materials were packed. Dr. Dozie Ikedife, the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo and Chief Edwin Umezoke, the Vice Presidential candidate of ANPP could not vote because voting did not take place in their wards.
"In the Central Zone, Sir Victor Umeh, the National Chairman of APGA and Chief Ben Obi, the Vice Presidential candidate of AC could not vote because voting did not take place in their wards. For the same reason, Mr. Ikem Odumodu, the Managing Director of May and Baker and Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, the managing Director of Juhel Pharmaceutical Ltd could not vote. At 2pm, I met Prof. Dora Akunyili and her husband, both of whom were still waiting for INEC officials and voting materials. I, the Governor of the State, could not vote despite being at my Polling Unit intermittently until 3pm.
"In the North Senatorial Zone, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe did not vote. In fact he sent out his aides who reported back to him that elections were not taking place in any part of Onitsha. Dr. Tim Menakaya, a former Federal Minister, did not vote neither did the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Paul Odenidgo. Also, Igwe Nonse, the Chairman, Anambra West Traditional Council did not vote.
"It should be noted, again, that the clergy across the state did not also vote because voting did not take place in their various wards."
The governor was also said to have personally discovered some electoral malpractices in certain parts of the state, including finding already prepared election results kept in a car with registration number CE 942 ENU, which reportedly belonged to a coordinator to a governorship candidate in the state.
Speaking to the press, Mr John Ifejiokwu of the Federal Information Resource Centre said that his group had visited Oyi, Amansea, Nteje, Agulu Achala Onitsha and Ekwulobia and that elections did not take place in any of these places.
Chief Edwin Umezoke, the vice presidential candidate of the ANPP speaking on the elections said: "On Saturday in Nigeria, particularly Anambra State, democracy received a very big blow. One starts to wonder where this country is going to. I wanted to vote but in my ward there were no electoral materials and INEC officials." He said he called Prof. Iwu repeatedly to complain of what was happening and accused INEC of acting out President Obasanjo's script who has vowed to make Andy Uba the governor of the state at all costs. "With what is happening, Obasanjo is committed to the destruction of Anambra State and the Igbos," he said.
In his own reaction, Chief Dozie Ikedife, President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo said: "The election which could not hold in Anambra State was said to have witnessed massive turnout. Since elections did not take place anywhere in Anambra State, there must not be any result as such will be a farce."
Earlier, the gubernatorial candidates of other parties had denounced what had happened in Anambra State in the name of elections. Dr Alex Obiogbolu, who recounted his experience told of how the enforcement agents aided the PDP and how they refused to treat those caught with election materials with seriousness.