The candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in Anambra state, Prof. Charles Soludo has been declared the winner of the governorship election held  Saturday, November 6.

Soludo swept to victory, winning 19 of the 21 local government areas of the state.

“That Charles Chukwuma Soludo of APGA, having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Chief Returning Officer for the poll, Prof. Florence Obi, announced the outcome on Wednesday morning.

Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (Mr Valentine Ozigbo) and Young Progressives Party (Senator Ifeanyi Ubah) each won a local government.

However, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Andy Uba, was unable to win any local government in the election.

Soludo, 61, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), conveniently secured 112,229 votes, twice more than his closest rival – PDP’s Ozigbo to be returned as winner of the election.

Ozigbo polled 53,807 votes while the other two frontline contenders – Uba and Ubah struggled to score 43,285 and 21,261 votes respectively.

Soludo will be succeeding Governor Willie Obiano, who is in the final months of his second term and APGA will be retaining power in the state, which it has governed since 2006.

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As of 1pm, Soludo was yet to cast his vote at his polling unit, alleging that the situation was similar in many parts of the state.

APGA candidate, however, urged  his supporters to exercise patience, describing himself as a “process person”.

“Voting is yet to start in most of the polling units in the state. And for the few places where they are doing, I understand that accreditation that is supposed to be done in seconds, takes up to 30 minutes.

With the crowd here, you don’t need a mathematician to know that people standing here, will not be exhausted.

“So this raises fundamental questions about the technology. I’m quite a bit shocked. And this is all over the state. I’ve been getting calls from virtually every local government without exception, about the glitches, and the fact that people are not voting. Places where you have about 800, 900 people there you probably have about five, six that have voted so far”, he said.

Soludo added, “The fundamental problem is the failure of the technology that is being tried in Anambra; it just hasn’t worked up to till this minute”.

The former CBN governor, also lamented the paucity of INEC staff in many polling units.

“There is hardly any ward that there are INEC officials in all the polling units.

“There is one at Uke that is supposed to be 17 polling units, but you have INEC officials in only five.

“Also, the security. As you can see, there is no police official here. And that is also widespread across the state. In Ihiala local government, the latest report I have is that the materials haven’t even left the local government, let alone get to the polling unit.

“I’m a diehard optimist. I’m still hoping to see if we can have water out of the stone, so to speak. I believe I’m a process person. I’m very confident about the process. The INEC Chairman assured us of the robustness of this new technology, that they tried it somewhere for a rerun of the state assembly; but that’s a small location, depending on how the network is in place. Now, the fundamental thing they are complaining about is the network. It’s 1pm, it hasn’t worked.

“My message to all our supporters, millions of them across the state, that have enthusiastically looked forward to this day, I say to you: let’s be patient. They told us it’s going to work. And I am patient”, the APGA candidate continued.

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Ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra state, the state’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

President Muhammadu Buhari received the deputy governor on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Okeke was led to the President by the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.

Governor Uzodinma, who presented the new APC member to the President, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

He expressed confidence that there will be more defections to the ruling party before the November 6 governorship election to be conducted by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State.

The governor, however, punctured Governor Willi Obiano’s claims that members of Anambra State House of Assembly who defected from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were financially induced to join the ruling party.

He added that rather than enticing the lawmakers with money, they were lobbied through persuasion and counselling.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the APC has inaugurated the party’s State Congress Committee chairmen and secretaries.

APC Caretaker Committee Secretary, Senator John Apkanudoedehe, who inaugurated the officials at the party’s secretariat in Abuja urged them to sustain the gains already made by the party’s leadership.

He also appealed to the newly inaugurated party officials to work hard and prevent disagreements that could affect the party’s fortunes in 2023.

Apkanudoedehe lauded the Senate for approving electronic transmission of election results for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday released the names of governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the Anambra governorship election.

According to the list obtained by Mega Icon Magazine the name of the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the supposed candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA), Professor Charles Soludo and that of his deputy were missing on the list.

It instead published the names of Chukwuma Michael Umeoji and Orogbu Obiageli Lilian as governorship and deputy governorship candidates respectively.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was omitted from the list released for the November 6 poll by the Nigeria’s electoral body .

“The Commission also considered and took cognizance of the Judgments/Court Orders served on it in relation to the primaries of the political parties and other processes leading to the election,” INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said in a statement as he assured of the body’s continued obedience to the country’s laws.

“In line with section 31(3) of the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended) the personal particulars of the candidates will be published in the Commissions Notice Board in Awka, Anambra State while the names of the candidates, their gender, party, age, qualification and the Commissions decision/ remarks are herein attached”, said INEC.

Before the primary poll, Anambra’s ruling party had suffered a series of crises, leading to the emergence of two factions.

Although the Victor Oye-led group had done the primary which was won by Soludo, another poll conducted by the Jude Okeke faction saw Umeoji coasting home to victory.

The list revealed that 18 candidates were cleared to contest for the election . Andy Uba was equally listed as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Below is the full list of candidates for the November 2021 Anambra election as released by INEC.

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Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, a former National Secretary and Governorship candidate for the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2019 gubernatorial election in Zamfara state, has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the next election.

Shinkafi , who formerly declared his defection from APGA to APC on Monday while addressing his teeming supporters in his house noted that he didn’t join APC for material gain, but decided to join Governor Bello Matawalle to develop the state.

He said, “I am leaving APGA not because I don’t like the party but I am living APGA in order to join Matawalle in the APC to rebuild Zamfara State.

“I was invited by Governor Bello Matawalle himself to join him in the APC, as such I see no reason why I should not join him”.

Speaking further, he maintained that he was one of the founding fathers of APGA and has been in the party for 19 years where he rose up to the rank of the National Secretary of the party.

“Those who are thinking that I am defecting to APC because of material things are wrong.

“I have decided to defect to APC as from today Monday 28, 6 2021 and I am calling on all my supporters to also join me in the APC.

“I am not forcing anybody to defect to APC and I will however continue to relate with those who chose to remain in the APGA because of our long-existing relationship”, he continued.

Shinkafi, however thanked the Anambra State Governor and the National Chairman of APGA for the support and assistance they rendered to him during his stay in the party.

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OYSIEC explained that its attention was  drawn to  order of Oyo State High Court in Suit No.I/177/2004: NATIONAL CONSCIENCE PARTY V. OYO STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND ANOR.  delivered on 18th March 2004 to the effect that sections 10 (b) (e) and (f) of the State Independent Electoral Commission Law of Oyo State contravene sections 7 (4), 106 and 107  of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended) .

The commission, had earlier insisted in its guidelines for Chairmanship and Councillorship Elections in the 33 Local Government Councils of Oyo State and expressly stated that Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates of political parties are expected to pay a sum of N250,000 and N100,000 respectively before picking the nomination forms and before they can participate in the election.

But , the Oyo State chapter of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had in a letter, dated 14th May,2021 asked the Commission to scrap the nomination form fees for the offices of Chairmen and Councillors demanded from political parties before they can participate in the upcoming local government election.

APGA, in a letter written by its solicitors, Olamiji Martins of Marvic Alpha LP Nigeria , to the OYSIEC Chairman, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju SAN and the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, added that it is not only outrightly illegal for the Commission to demand money from the party and indeed other political parties, but it was also condemned by an existing judgement, which warned against this common habits of state governments and indeed OYSIEC in making election a money making venture.

The lbadan based lawyer Martins referenced that APGA’s demand on nomination fee was in line with a court decision which  the late Gani Fawehinmi  and Femi Falana were part of.

According to the letter exclusively obtained by Mega Icon Magazine, the solicitors submitted, “Our client informed us that there was another time when you visited its office and the issue of payment for nomination form was discussed. The National Vice Chairman (South West) of our client, Deacon Samson Segun Olalere informed you that there is an existing court judgment procured by late Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN against your Commission in suit number I/117/2004 between National Conscience Party on one side and the Attorney General of Oyo State and your Commission on the other side. In the above case, the Court per My Lord the Hon. Justice M. O. Bolaji-Yusuf held by declaring that your Commission is incompetent to prescribe conditions for the nomination, eligibility, qualification and disqualification of candidates to contest Local Government Elections in Oyo State outside the conditions stipulated by Sections 7(4), 106 and 107 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Our client informed us that after showing a copy of the judgment to you, you promised to look into it and revert accordingly. Till date, nothing was done and no scrapping of nomination form fee was effected by your Commission. Our client is desirous of participating and fielding candidates to contest Chairmanship and Councillorship elections across the 33 Local Government Areas of Oyo State but only being handicapped by the nomination form fees imposed by your Commission.

“This matter is already before the court and as such, all parties ought to maintain status quo until the determination of the matter”.

Hours after it had received APGA’s letter, OYSIEC, in a statement by its Electoral Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Prince Afeez Adeniyi said, “the Commission wishes  to seize this opportunity to further  inform the general public and specially  political parties  that our attention had just been drawn to the order of Oyo State High Court in Suit No.I/177/2004: NATIONAL CONSCIENCE PARTY V. OYO STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND ANOR.  delivered on 18th March 2004 to the effect that sections 10 (b) (e) and (f) of the State Independent Electoral Commission Law of Oyo State contravene sections 7 (4), 106 and 107  of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended) .

”In the circumstance, the commission hereby cancels payment of nomination fees   of #50,000 for Councillorship candidates and #250,000 for Chairmanship candidates (as stated on Time Table and Guidelines for the Election)  since the Constitution of Federal Republic takes precedence over any law or bylaws”.

The commission, has therefore resolved to  refund those candidates that have paid  before this pronouncement, adding that it remains resolute in its determination to conduct a free, fair, credible and transparent Local Government Election.

OYSIEC, however reminded  the residents that elections to elect Councillors and Chairmen in the “33 constitutionally recognised local government” in the state will hold on 22nd May, 2021 from 8am to 3pm.

“There shall  be restrictions on human and vehicular movement through the time of election”, the statement said.

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The political parties include Accord, AA, ADP, AAC, APGA, and APM. Others are APP, NNPP, NRM, SDP, and the YPP.

Speaking on behalf of the eleven parties, the Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ondo State Chapter, Prince Oladele Ogunbameru who disclosed this  while addressing a press conference in Akure, the state capital, informed that the decision of the parties to collapse their structures for the PDP was made at a meeting held on Sunday, 4th October 2020 with the party leaders and top echelon of the PDP.

According to him, the opposition parties took the decision because they believe the good governance the people are yearning for can only be offered by the PDP.

He stressed that the collaboration is an organized effort to save Ondo State from the political quagmire and undesirable socioeconomic predicament of the good people of the State.

Also commenting on the development, the State Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Fatai Adams said the support from the political parties indicates the acceptability of  Jegede, which shows that the party is winning the election.

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The Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, Professor Damian Ozurumba, declared him as the winner of the poll after he successfully secured 261,127 votes, more than double the 99, 574 votes his closest rival, Dr Uche Ogah of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got.

Dr Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) finished third with 64,366 votes.

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Adesina stated this while representing President Buhari at the inauguration and flag off of a 5.5km road attracted by Dr. Alex Otti, the 2015 gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and built by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) at Isieketa community in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State.

The president’s aide added that Buhari’s administration, would do all to ensure the infrastructural deficits were tackled.

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“One thing that is dear to the heart of President Buhari is infrastructure; roads, railway, power, etc.

“Nigeria has a lot of deficits in infrastructure and President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to reverse that deficit.

“We will see that by the time this administration ends Igboland will never be the same again. Igbo will be far better beyond where it has ever been before.”

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