Obiano Wins Anambra Governorship Poll

Gov Willie Obiano

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday declared Governor Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State.
Declaring the result of the election, which was keenly contested by 37 candidates, in Awka on Sunday, INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Zana Akpagu, said Obiano polled 234, 071 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Tony Nwoye of All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 98, 752 votes.
Akpagu who is the Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr Oseloka Obaze, came third with 70,293 votes.
He also added that the United Progressives Party (UPP) candidate, Chief Osita Chidioka, polled a total of 7,903, while the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) candidate, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, scored a total of 2787 votes to clinch fifth position.
According to him, the total valid votes cast at the poll was 422,314, with a total number of 26, 457 rejected votes, while the total votes cast was 448,771 votes.
After declaring votes scored by each of the contestants, Akpagu described the conduct of the poll as free and fair, devoid of violence.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Dr Ukwachukwu Orji, commended the people of the state for exhibiting good behavior.
“No bloodshed was recorded. Let this election not divide the people of the state but bring you together”, Orji noted.
He said Obiano will get his certificate of return from INEC on Wednesday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday declared Governor Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State.
Declaring the result of the election, which was keenly contested by 37 candidates, in Awka on Sunday, INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Zana Akpagu, said Obiano polled 234, 071 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Tony Nwoye of All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 98, 752 votes.
Akpagu who is the Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr Oseloka Obaze, came third with 70,293 votes.
He also added that the United Progressives Party (UPP) candidate, Chief Osita Chidioka, polled a total of 7,903, while the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) candidate, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, scored a total of 2787 votes to clinch fifth position.
According to him, the total valid votes cast at the poll was 422,314, with a total number of 26, 457 rejected votes, while the total votes cast was 448,771 votes.
After declaring votes scored by each of the contestants, Akpagu described the conduct of the poll as free and fair, devoid of violence.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Dr Ukwachukwu Orji, commended the people of the state for exhibiting good behaviour.
“No bloodshed was recorded. Let this election not divide the people of the state but bring you together”, Orji noted.
He said Obiano will get his certificate of return from INEC on Wednesday.
Also, Governor Obiano said yesterday that his victory in the governorship election does not belong to him or APGA alone, but to all the people of Anambra
In his acceptance speech titled, ‘Time to Build a New World’, Obiano said, “This sweet victory belongs to Ndi Anambra. It belongs to the wheelbarrow pushers and the okada riders who have clearly seen in our recent political experience, a glimmer of light in the horizon.
“It belongs to the farmers in Ayamelum, Onono, Ogbaru, Omasi, Omor and Ufuma who have now realised that agriculture is the future of Nigeria.
“It belongs to the teachers and civil servants who have seen that a motivated workforce is the greatest asset of any government.
“It belongs to the illustrious sons and daughters of Anambra State who have seen the star of this great state rise in the Eastern skies and have answered our call to  bring home their naira and dollars to put our dear state on the investment map.
“This victory belongs to all of us. My dear people, this victory is not a winner takes it all. In the New Anambra of my dream, everyone is a winner”.
He implored other governorship candidates to join in building the new Anambra that the citizens would be proud of.
He said the victory did not come by chance but the final product of the combined efforts of brilliant men and women who sacrificed their comfort to ensure that Anambra’s steady march to progress was not derailed.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for proving to the people of Anambra that under his watch, democracy would have deeper roots in Nigeria.
“Mr President promised us a free and fair election. Today, we can all see that he has kept his promise’’, he said.


Source: Leadership Newspaper