Anambra: APGA will win again and again —Obi

 •Says those crying were those who planned to rig

GOVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has denied allegation of rigging levelled against him in the conduct of the state gubernatorial election, saying that those who are crying over the outcome of the election can continue, but they will never win in the state.

He said in a chat with State House correspondents in Abuja, on Monday, that even if the Anambra governorship election was conducted 10 times, the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) would emerge victorious.

While insisting the APGA won the election, he stressed that he was never part of any move to rig the election, as he had no money to prosecute such a venture.

Obi noted that those who were calling for the cancellation of the election were losers who had no opportunity to rig the exercise in favour of their candidates.

While most of the fringe political parties have welcomed the conduct of the election, major parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP) have rejected the polls where the ruling APGA has been declared the leader in the results so far released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The governor said: “I can tell you that there was no issue of election rigging. Those who wanted to rig were prevented from rigging and they are crying.

“Go to the people of Anambra State, if you repeat that election 10 times, they (those crying) will never win. Why are they even talking about cancellation?

“The law says you have to win at least 25 per cent in two thirds of the local governments. In Anambra’s case, it is 14 local governments. Only APGA can boost of that. We won in 18 local governments.

The nearest, which is PDP, won in nine, APC seven and I can tell you even those results they are shouting about their own are the ones that are doubtful.

“Everything for APGA is real. I cannot be part of rigging. I don’t have money to pay to people. You know those who spend money. I am not one of them.”

Jega not fit to conduct 2015 elections —APC
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday, said that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, is not fit to conduct the 2015 general election.

The mega opposition party made this declaration on the heels of controversies that trailed the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State, which the electoral body had since declared inconclusive.

It will be recalled that INEC had slated Saturday, November 30, for the supplementary election in some polling units in the state.

The party’s candidate, Dr Chris Ngige, his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party colleagues, Tony Nwoye and Ifeanyi Ubah, respectively, have threatened to boycott the supplementary polls, having called for its total cancellation.

The APC Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this while delivering a lecture on ‘Nigeria, 53 years after: Problems, possibilities and prospects’, organised by the Ogun State chapter of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria, in Abeokuta.

The APC scribe wondered how Jega, who could not ensure free and fair elections in Anambra State,would conduct the 2015 polls.

Atiku expresses disappointment on conduct
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, on Monday, expressed disappointment on the conduct of the Anambra State governorship election, saying that INEC messed up the exercise.

Alhaji Abubakar stated this while fielding questions from newsmen after he visited the Maidunama Sickle Cell Foundation, located at Wuse 2, Abuja, where he donated N3 million to the foundation to commemorate his 67th birthday anniversary.

The former vice-president declared that the outcome of the election conducted  in Anambra State was a great threat to the 2015 general election in the country.

According to him, “the outcome of the Anambra State governorship election is dangerous to the conduct of the 2015 general election. It is nothing to write home about.”

He, however, advised  the INEC to go back to the drawing board to put its house in order and prepare for the 2015 general election to be able to correct the lapses and deliver a free and fair polls.

Court remands inec official in police custody
An Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Monday, ordered that an official of the INEC for Idemili North, Anambra State, Chukwujekwu Okeke, be remanded in police custody till 2 December.

The Chief Magistrate, Usman Shuaibu, gave the order after the accused was arraigned on a one-count charge of dereliction of duty contrary to Section 123 (1) (2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

The duration of his custody is to enable the police to complete its investigation on the matter and to also consider his bail application.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Stanley Nwodo, submitted that on November 16, the accused unlawfully breached his official duties at Idemili, where he was deployed.

USA-based observer group says election free, fair
Election Group from Anambra State Association (ASA) in the United State of American (USA), accredited to observe the November 16 governorship election in the state, has described the election as credible, free and fair.

Addressing newsmen at the JoeGold Hotel at the weekend in Awka, the president and leader of the group, Professor Alson Anadi, said despite minor hitches, the election was fair.

He also said the ASA commended the INEC and their decision to conduct a supplementary election because of the inconclusive nature of the election.

Professor Anad said that the minor hitches were not enough to undermine the collective expression of Anambra people, even though ASA-USA was not unmindful of the attempt by some group of Anambra people to declare the whole process as generally flawed and incredible.