22nd November, 2013
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected Friday’s announcement by INEC to hold supplementary election in Anambra State on 30 November.
“We will not be a party to what is obviously a travesty of election by a self-discredited and conniving electoral umpire,” the party said in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. 
It expressed absolute shock and incredulity that INEC could even talk of organizing a supplementary election, despite the weight of credible evidence presented by the party as well as election monitors/observers that what transpired on Nov. 16th was nothing but a sham.
“This announcement has confirmed our worst fears that INEC is working in cahoots with the PDP and the presidency to ensure that no election ever counts in Nigeria.
“The INEC Chairman himself was the first to admit that a senior official of the commission compromised the election in one local government in Anambra.
“This announcement has confirmed our worst fears that INEC is working in cahoots with the PDP and the presidency to ensure that no election ever counts in Nigeria”….APC
“We have examined all the accusations and allegations that have been made, and we’ve come to the conclusion that in spite of minor challenges, unfortunate challenges in the field, there is no substantial evidence to support outright cancellation of the process.”—Jega, INEC Chairman
“We on our own part were able to establish that materials meant for several LGs that were the strongholds of our candidate were diverted; that out of the about 1.7 million registered voters in Anambra, only a little over 400,000 were accredited to vote; and that the voters’ register was apparently tampered with to remove many names and disenfranchise thousands of voters.
”Yet, the same electoral body that admitted that the election was compromised has turned around to validate it by its decision to organize supplementary election instead of cancelling the parody of election and holding a fresh one. This is a sad day indeed,” APC said.
The party said it is now obvious that Nigerians cannot count on INEC to organize a free, fair and credible election anywhere in the country, hence Nigerians must now take their fate in their own hands to ensure that the principle of one man, one vote is sacrosanct.
Chairman of the INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega announced the new date for the supplementary election at the commission headquarters in Abuja on Friday, after its meeting over the inconclusive governorship election held on November 16 and 17, 2013.
Professor Jega regretted the challenges faced in the polls, but explained that the commission did all it could to make sure the election was free and fair. He however dismissed calls for outright cancellation, as he said INEC was yet to receive substantial evidence from any political party on reasons why the polls should be cancelled.
“We have examined all the accusations and allegations that have been made, and we’ve come to the conclusion that in spite of minor challenges, unfortunate challenges in the field, there is no substantial evidence to support outright cancellation of the process.”
“There is no other decision that we can make as a commission other than that of the Returning Officer, to conduct the supplementary election in those areas where the results were cancelled before the final return is made.”
On the petition by the All Progressives Congress, Jega said it contained no new information, that would have warranted cancellation of the entire poll. He also said the petition was not different from the complaints already expressed by the APC candidate, Dr Chris Ngige.
Professor Jega also revealed the identity of its Electoral Officer, Mr Chukwujekwu Okeke, who was arrested by the police for sabotaging the election in Idemili North Local Government.
He said Mr Okeke would be charged to court.