Anambra govt denies bribery allegation

Posted by admin Anambra, Elections 2011, State News Monday, April 11th, 2011

The Anambra State Government has debunked media reports alleging that government officials attempted to bribe an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mr Alex Anene to announce Professor Dora Akunyili as the winner of the Anambra Central senatorial election conducted on Saturday, April 9, 2011.

A release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Mike Udah made it clear that the Anambra State Government under Mr Peter Obi did not offer any bribe to any person or attempted in any way to thwart the genuine efforts of INEC to conduct a free, fair, credible and violence-free election in the state.

It noted that Governor Obi is civil, peaceful, democratic and humble and has never in the course of his political journey so far committed any fraud of any sort, not even when his mandate was brazenly stolen in2003 by Dr Chris Ngige. Udah observed that the present attempts by Dr Ngige to give the impression that the State Government and APGA are striving to shortchange him did not arise and will not fly.

The release wondered why only the senatorial election in Anambra Central District should be trailed by such dramatic controversy generated by the ACN candidate, noting that the accusation made against APGA in respect of the foregoing has already been addressed by the party.

It emphasized that Governor Obi did not request anybody to bribe any person for him or APGA, nor did the State Government and challenged Mr Alex Anene to mention the names of those who approached him and offered the bribe, stating that before long the truth will come out and the deal by Mr Anene and Dr Ngige will be known.

The Uba, Emeka win senate seats in Anambra

Independent National Electoral Commission in Anambra State has declared former Minister of State for Transport and Peoples Democratic Party candidate for Anambra North senatorial zone, Prince John Emeka, winner of the senatorial election held in the area on Saturday.

The commission also declared Mr. Andy Uba of the PDP winner of the election in Anambra South senatorial district.

Emeka was declared winner, having polled 60,788 votes to defeat his closet opponent, Mrs Joy Emodi, of the All Progressive Grand Alliance who polled 54,060, while the Action Congress of Nigeria whose name was not mentioned scored 17, 849.

INEC returning officer, Mr Jones Okeke, who declared the result in Onitsha North local government, announced that Onitsha North and South federal constituency was won by the APGA candidate, Mr Cyril Egwuatu, who polled 13,656, while Gozie Agbakoba of the ACN and Tabansi Okoye of ADC scored 10,387 and 8,692 respectively.

According to the returning officer, the total votes cast was 24, 567.

Speaking to reporters after the declaration of the result, Prince Emeka praised INEC for living up to the expectation of Nigerians by conducting what he described as transparent, credible, acceptable, free and fair election.

“I thank God for giving me the opportunity to serve my people. It was a moment for me to really know that my people wanted me to serve them and I thank them for giving me their mandate to serve them,” he said.

He said though INEC had started on a faulty note, last Saturday’s poll had actually shown that it had corrected the anomalies in the electoral process and advised the commission to improve on other elections.

In Anambra South senatorial zone, INEC declared Dr Andy Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party winner of the senatorial election, having polled 63,345 votes to defeat the APGA candidate, Mr Chuma Nzeribe, who got 43,789 votes.

The candidate for the Accord party, Mr Ikechukwu Obiora, scored 24, 724 votes, while the ACN candidate, Chief Chris Atuegwu polled 11,559 votes.

-Vanguardwp_posts