APGA Rejects Re-Run Election Result in Anaocha
BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA
The Leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anaocha Council area yesterday rejected the re-run election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anaocha constituency one and two, saying it does not reflect the wishes of the people
The party also condemned in strong terms, the activities of the security agents and INEC, who they alleged collaborated with PDP in aiding and abetting election malpractice in the area.
INEC had declared PDP candidates for Anaocha constituency one and two, Francis Okoye and Chalce Ezeani respectively winners of the re-run election held yesterday in Anaocha state constituencies.
APGA therefore called on INEC to announce its candidates Hon Ejike Okechukwu for constituency 2 and Hon Azubuike Okoye for constituency 1 winners of the election based on results collated at each polling units which showed that APGA clearly won the said election.
In a press conference held in Neni, the headquarter of the council Area, the Chairman of Anaocha local government area, Hon Ikeobi Ejioffor who flanked by the candidate of the party , Hon Ejike Okechukwu for constituency 2, the Anaocha local government Party Chairman ,Sir Erastus Ifeanyi Orji and Anaocha Local govt deputy chairman, Comrade Benjamin Ogbonna said the result was unacceptable by APGA as he claimed it was marred with fraudulent practices.
He also condemned his encounter with the Nigerian army who he said was led to his office by a General in the Nigerian army who asked him to leave his office without any explanation of his offence. He described their action as anti democrats.
'Security agents assaulted my deputy, Comrade Benjamin Ogbonna and also beat to pulp, the APGA local Government chairman in Anaocha, Sir Eristus Ifeanyi Orji and an APGA councillor in my council area, Hon. Chijioke Ibeanu who was protesting against their evil deeds, they forcefully collected his cell phone while he was trying to make calls and later bundled him to CPS.
They came and asked me to leave my office and I asked them my offence for asking me to leave but they couldn’t give any reason. They later blocked the entrance to my office and placed me on house arrest for refusing to leave my office all in a bid to perfect their evil plan of upturning the wishes of the people.
'From the results we got from the collation centre, In Anaocha 1 constituency, APGA garnered 5,959 votes while PDP came second with 5061 votes, APGA was leading with over 898 votes and in Anaocha constituency 2, APGA coasted to victory with 6,172 votes while PDP got 3,749 votes with a different of 2,473 votes. I am still surprise how INEC returning officers for the both constituencies got the result they used to declare PDP candidates winners of the election.
'In Nri ward one, our agents reported that there were multiple accreditations by people who did not register in Anaocha area. Police arrested about eight of them with multiple PVC and some of them were not even from Anambra state. In Ichida ward 1 ,PDP collaborated with SPO and security agents to manipulate the electoral process as the INEC SPO disappeared . We won in all the wards in Anaocha1, except in Agulu ward 2, 3 and 4 and we also won in constituency 11 except in Nri ward 1, 2 and Neni ward 2 APGA won in 13 wards out of 19 ,' he explained .
'In Nri ward one, our agents reported that there were multiple accreditations by people who did not register in Anaocha area. Police arrested about eight of them with multiple PVC and some of them were not even from Anambra state. In Ichida ward 1 ,PDP collaborated with SPO and security agents to manipulate the electoral process as the INEC SPO disappeared . We won in all the wards in Anaocha1, except in Agulu ward 2, 3 and 4 and we also won in constituency 11 except in Nri ward 1, 2 and Neni ward 2 APGA won in 13 wards out of 19 ,' he explained .
Also contributing, the candidate of APGA for Anaocha 2 constituency, Hon.Okechukwu Ejike appealed to INEC to declare him winner having won the election on polling booth results, even as he decried the attitude of the returning officer, Dr Pius Okoye for declaring a PDP candidate winner against the real results generated by the voters and witnessed by agents of all the political parties , describing it as insult on democracy and on the intelligence of electorate.
He appealed to his constituents to remain calm as they are following all due process to recover the mandate stolen by PDP.