8th November, 2021
By Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu
A faction of Anambra chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has opposed call by the chairman of their party, Chief Basil Ejidike that the yet-to-be-concluded November 6 governorship election of the state should be cancelled.
Mr Chukwuemeka Nnebe, Secretary APC, Orumba North LGA, at a news conference on Monday, in Awka, said Ejidike had no right to challenge the outcome of a peaceful and transparent election witnessed in the state.
Ejidike had on Sunday called for the cancellation of the governorship election as the results were being collated.
Andy Uba, the candidate of APC is trailing the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Valentine Ozigbo and Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA in the results of 20 of the 21 local government areas of the state where election were conducted on Saturday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC will conduct supplementary election in Ihiala Local Government where there was no election on Saturday before announcing the winner.
However, the candidate of APGA who is leading his nearest challenger with over 40,000 votes in the results declared o far is expected to win the election.
But Ejidike on Sunday night in Awka, said that INEC should fix a date for a fresh election “devoid of manipulations and malpractices”.
But in his statement by his faction of APC said the result of the Nov. 6 election announced so far by INEC, reflects the wish and mandate of the people to sustain the socio-economic development of the state.
He said, “Our attention has been drawn to the statement by the Anambra state Chairman of APC, Mr Basil Ejidike, where he called for the cancellation of the Nov. 6 governorship election in the state.
“Mr Ejidike subverted democratic process to become Acting State Chairman and has no locus to challenge the outcome of a peaceful and transparent election in Anambra State.
“Mr Andy Uba, whose interest he is fostering, was not also a valid candidate at the election where the process that produced him as a candidate of APC was an electoral fraud and undemocratic.
“We urge members of the public to discountenance the statements by Ejidike which is a case of a bad loser,” he said.
“It has become clear that Anambra electorates have chosen their governor hence the submissions of Basil Ejidike is Inconsequential and does not hold water,” he said.
(NAN)