Candidates cry foul over state, NASS election results in Anambra

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA-SOME candidates who contested the state and National Assembly elections in Anambra State are crying foul over the outcome of the results in some constituencies, accusing the state resident electoral commissioner of dancing to the tune of some self-styled political godfathers.

Among candidates who claimed that they won the election but have not been returned include the Labour Party, LP, candidate for Nnewi North/South/Ekwusigo
federal constituency, Chief Hunphrey Nsofor, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, candidate for Onitsha South 1 constituency, Dr. Emeka Anaebonam, and the All
Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate for Idemili South, Comrade Tony Ezekwelu.

Nsofor, who addressed newsmen in Awka, said the election was inconclusive in many wards, and accused the REC, Professor Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, of declaring
APGA candidate winner.

He recalled that some chieftain of PDP tore the result sheet while the returning officer was announcing the result, as APGA officials were allegedly engaged in
rigging the election.

According to him, there were problems in some areas, including Nnewi Ichi ward 2, Osumenyi ward 2, Akwaihedi ward and Ukpor ward 5.
“The election must stand cancelled because the wishes of the people must prevail. I am requesting INEC to disqualify candidates who had the audacity to
tear result sheets because they are not fit to stand for election,” he said.

The case of Dr. Anaebonam of the ACN was even more pathetic as he had already been declared winner at the collation centre before a political godfather whose
sister was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the constituency, made calls and the next story was that the election was
inconclusive.

He said: “I have gone to REC who told me that the election was inconclusive after the returning officer had announced me winner.

“The political godfather whose sister contested the election and came fourth, had been making spirited efforts to change the result. We were trying to explain the situation at INEC when the police forced us out of the place.”