Category: Anambra Election

The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti, Most Reverend Felix Ajakaye, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use the forthcoming governorship elections in Anambra and Ekiti states to boost its image positively.

The cleric spoke at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, the state capita, while delivering a lecture, titled: Ekiti Politics and The Search for Great Leadership, as part of the activities marking the 2021 annual lecture/award presentation of Ekiti State (Correspondents’) Council of the Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ) at Prosperous Royal Hotel and Resort.

Bishop Ajakaiye urged the commission to be above board and neutral in the conduct of the November 6 governorship poll in Anambra State to keep its image from further dent.

Read Also: IPOB/ESN sponsors using propaganda to galvanise support, says Army

He admonished the electoral umpire to also replicate same in the June 18, 2022 governorship election in Ekiti State, saying the image of the commission is central to achieving public confidence in accepting outcomes of election exercises, as credible, acceptable, free and fair.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the cleric also asked voters to avoid compromising their future by aiding and abetting fraudulent practices that violate acceptable global standards.

According to him, INEC must act as a truly independent body and allow the votes of Nigerians to count.

“I have observed that it is when election is coming that all manner of politicians begin to come out. “They are one-off politicians. They will set up all manner of empowerment programmes and when the election is over, you won’t see them again. That is why we have to be careful,” he said.

 

The Nigerian Army has said it had uncovered the antics of sponsors of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) to peddle falsehood and disinformation to remain relevant in the Southeast.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said this in a statement, titled: Conspiracy Pretext Employed by IPOB/ESN, a Hoax, on Saturday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said the recent allegation by Kalu Odinakachi that Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) and Department of State Service (DSS) created and funded Biafra National Guard (BNG/UGM) to enforce the sit-at-home order in a bid to discredit IPOB/ESN was one of such scheming, currently in the media domain.

He stressed that the “spurious allegation” was unfounded and could be absolutely described as a hoax.

According to him, the Nigerian Army will not like to elevate such purveyors of disinformation and propaganda, but it is expedient to put on record that in recent times, the activities of IPOB/ESN have undoubtedly assumed a violent dimension.

“This unimaginable level of violence is oiled with propaganda and disinformation to whip-up sentiments and draw sympathy from unsuspecting citizens in the region.

“For the records, the proscribed organisation has in recent times foisted a sit-at-home order to show sympathy for their self-acclaimed leader.

Read Also: Soldiers kill four IPOB/ESN allegedly involved in attack on DSS

“This was greeted with violence, orchestrated destruction of public installations and facilities, arson, as well as looting of shops and malls in the region, to demonstrate their criminal potency.

“They defiled the sanctity of the highly revered traditional institution of Ndigbos by recklessly murdering their own traditional leaders.

“These spineless and irresponsible actions targeted at the very people they claim they want to liberate, clearly unmask their heinous and directionless agenda for the Ndigbo,” he said.

Nwachukwu said that after realising the futility, hollowness and public rejection of their violent agitation, they resorted to twisting the narrative in the region to galvanise local support.

He said the wild allegation that BNG and UGN were an overt operation by the DMI and DSS was not only laughable, but remains largely illusive and a ploy to diminish the public support the Nigerian army is enjoying in the ongoing exercises.

“In his blatant display of ignorance, Odinakachi failed to realise that such designation as DMI has since ceased to exist in the NA.

“These criminal elements with their cohorts must come to terms with the reality of the ongoing Exercise Golden Dawn and turn themselves in to security agencies or be ready to face the consequences of their lawlessness.

“More grotesque is the narrative peddled by these merchants of propaganda in respect of IPOB/ESN gunmen recently eliminated by troops in a shootout at Ekwulobia Roundout in Aguata Local Government Area.

“These unscrupulous elements insinuated that those taken out were Fulani, an outrageous claim that should be disregarded in its entirety,” he said.

 

 

Monarchs and religious leaders in the Southeast yesterday urged the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOP) not to disrupt the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.

They also urged the Federal Government to de-proscribe the organisation and free its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

“We urge IPOB not to do anything that would hinder or be seen to be hindering the smooth running of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State and to cancel all scheduled sit-at-home, as these have already caused untold hardship for our people.

“We call on all the candidates in the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election to eschew violence and commit to free, fair and credible election,” they said.

In a statement by the Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers and Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops, the Igbo leaders decried the high level of insecurity and socio-economic disruption in the region.

According to them, the worsening insecurity has deepened the hardship and rendered prostrate the socio-political and economic lives of the people.

Signatories to the statement include Igwe Charles Mkpuma, Eze Joseph N. Nwabeke, Obi Nnaemeka Achebe of Onitsha, Igwe Ambassador L. O. C. Agubu, Eze Dr. E. C. Okeke, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna (Catholic Archbishop of Owerri), Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel O. Chukwuma (Anglican Archbishop of Enugu), Most Rev. Dr. Chibuzo R. Opoko (Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia) and Most Rev. Dr. Valerian M. Okeke (Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha).

Others are: Most Rev. Dr. Uma A. Onwunta (Past Principal Clerk, Presbyterian Church Nigeria), Bishop Obi Onubogu (Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria), and Rev. Dr. Abraham Nwali (Chairman, Southeast Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN).

The Igbo leaders advised government and stakeholders to explore dialogue and negotiation in resolving critical issues threatening national unity, cohesion and development.

Read Also: Anambra election: that fear of IPOB may not bring unintended consequences

They added: “Accordingly, we refer to our earlier request for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops and restate this call even more strongly.

“We are of the firm belief that this act of courage and statesmanship is not only imperative, but will speedily de-escalate the heightened state of insecurity and dislocation in the South East Zone.”

They also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to de-proscribe IPOB and release all IPOB members being held in various detention facilities across the country.

The Igbo leaders urged the Federal Government to demilitarise the Southeast, saying the military siege to the region could only lead to heightened tension, skirmishes and endless bloodletting between the security agencies and the youth.

The statement added: “We assert that heightened inequality and marginalisation remain at the core of youth restiveness in our region. We urge our apex national leadership to note that until it takes deliberate steps to run government on the basis of fairness, equity, justice and non-discrimination, this restiveness is likely to continue.

“We shall respectfully seek audience with Mr. President to discuss these issues in exploring political solution and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“On our part, we assure our youths that we have heard their cries of marginalisation, injustice and longsuffering. As concerned parents, we feel your pain.

“However, we urge you to de-escalate the tension and remain law-abiding to enable us to engage, especially the Federal Government, in finding a lasting solution to the crises.”

Anambra State All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate, Prof. Charles Soludo, has said the resort to violence will not solve the challenges confronting the Southeast.

“Shooting is not the solution. You must organise and have a platform to discuss,” he told Anambra State indigenes resident in Lagos.

The APGA standard bearer warned that if insecurity continued for a long time, the Igbo land would become desolate.

Soludo, a former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), explained his mission in politics, saying he wanted to plough back to the society that has given him relevance.

The eminent economist promised to run an administration that would foster probity, transparency and efficiency.

He said: “I have achieved all I wanted to achieve in the world in my thirties. I have travelled to 45 countries across the six continents as a scholar and consultant.

“President Olusegun Obasanjo invited me to be the Economic Adviser and Head of Economic Planning and, later, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. I put up a policy that created 12.2 million jobs.

“I did bank consolidation and, since then, no money has been trapped in any bank. We put an end to failed banks.

“My children said I have done enough and discouraged me from going into politics. But God created me here. As an itinerant tribe, you are not respected by your host if your home state is not prosperous. I said if I fail, let me fail while trying, not that I should not try at all. We must build on the foundation that has been laid.”

Soludo, who spoke in Igbo and English, acknowledged that the journey to power is difficult.

But he expressed confidence that he would triumph at the poll on November 6.

The APGA flag bearer said he would not emulate the Lagos development model, saying this may not be sustainable.

He said: “Lagos is not sustainable if this trend continues, with all these traffic. The population now is 20 million. The East can become the new land of prosperity.”

Read Also: Soludo role model to youths, says 2Baba

According to him, the sustainability of Anambra State is the sustainability of Igbo land.

Soludo, who once fired salvos at APGA in 2011 when he sought to run on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), explained that his main mission of APGA is the resurrection of Igbo identity.

He fired salvos at the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose candidate, Senator Andy Uba, is mounting an aggressive campaign, saying: “Anambra is not Imo.”

Soludo also chided prominent Igbos who had served in successive administrations, saying that despite holding strategic positions, there are no motorable roads in Igbo land to show for it.

But he praised past governors of Anambra for leaving behind good legacies.

The former CBN boss lauded Chinwoke Mbadinuju for establishing a university, Chris Ngige for constructing a network of roads and Peter Obi for his acumen.

Soludo said Anambra required a master plan, promising to harness its human and material resources towards its development.

He stressed: “Anambra is the second state with the smallest land size. Lagos is reclaiming land from ocean. Anambra is shrinking because of erosion.

“Anambra needs a master plan. I will be the Chief Marketing Officer for anything that is made in Anambra.

“I want to plant one million palms a year. I want to promote agro-processing industry. On education, Anambra should produce products who are productive at home and exportable abroad.

“I want to be the chief servant. I don’t know it all. I will ask for your advice, support and guidance.”

Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kabiru Gaya, has said the electoral body is free to transmit the November 6 Anambra State governorship election result electronically, if it so desires.

Gaya said this yesterday while addressing reporters after the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters and INEC met with stakeholders on the governorship poll in Anambra State.

Asked if INEC could transmit results of the election electronically, Gaya said: “It is left for INEC to decide whether it will transfer the election results in Anambra or not. They have done that in the previous elections in Edo and Ondo states.”

He added: “Even before the INEC started transmitting elections results from polling units, Nigerians have been monitoring results of elections the moments they are being announced at polling stations. By 4 p.m, even before the final results are announced, many Nigerians would have seen them on the internet. Nigerians are fully involved in elections.”

The Kano South senator said INEC assured the joint committee that it would go ahead with the Anambra poll and declare the winner, despite the prevailing security situation in the state.

“We expect the people of the state to cooperate fully with the electoral body by being law-abiding.

“The only way to achieve free, fair and credible election in Anambra is for everybody to eschew violence,” he said.

Read Also: We have enough manpower for Anambra poll, says INEC

INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the agency had recovered from the series of attacks by yet-to-be-identified persons in Anambra State.

“We have recovered from the series of attacks on our facilities. I am happy to say that we have deployed all the non-sensitive materials to all the local government areas. We have trained the requisite number of ad hoc workers for the election and we have also mobilised members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for efficient distribution of materials on Election Day. As far as INEC is concerned, we are good to go on November 6, 2021.”

On the level of distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Anambra State, he INEC Chairman said: “We have a little over 81,000 valid registrants. After the suspension of the CVR (Continuous Voter Registration) in Anambra State, that includes a little over 5,000 that applied for replacement of cards and intra-state and inter-state transfers.

“As we speak, we are batching the cards. They will leave first thing tomorrow morning (today) for Awka (the state capital) and all the new registrants will get their cards before the elections.

“This time round with the help of technology, we were able to harvest the telephone numbers and email addresses of the registrants.

“So, we will contact each and every one of them and tell them where to pick their cards. But the cards will be delivered to Awka tomorrow.”

Prof. Yakubu added that INEC would make announcements in the media to ensure that those without telephones and emails could collect their cards at the ward level.

Less than two weeks to the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, some ad hoc workers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have declined to work.

The bus drivers usually used to dispatch materials to different centres have equally declined to join the exercise.

The reason, The Nation was told yesterday, was the threat from proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Though the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, did not answer his calls when our correspondent sought to confirm the development, a senior staff member of the commission confirmed it.

It was learnt that the drivers and majority of the ad hoc workers already recruited said they were no longer interested in the job for fear of their lives.

INEC had, between May and early June, announced the increment of polling units in Anambra State, which used to be 4,608, to 5,720.

Besides, the commission announced that it would require about 10,000 ad hoc workers for the election to be a success.

Few days ago, IPOB issued a statement through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, that if its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is not released on November 4, it would declare another sit-at-home in Igbo land between November 5 and 10.

Read Also: Your votes will count, INEC assures visually-impaired

If the pro-Biafra group succeeds, it would disrupt the conduct of the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.

Besides, President Muhammadu Buhari had, on Saturday, declared that nothing would stop the conduct of Anambra State governorship election.

Also, Governor Willie Obiano had promised that nothing would stop the November 6 poll.

Obiano spoke in Awka, the state capital, through his Information and Public Enlightenment Commissioner C. Don Adinuba.

But the INEC source, who spoke with The Nation yesterday in Awka, regretted that the commission was facing a serious challenge ahead of the election.

The source said: “That is our situation now. Nothing seems to be working for us in this election because no one wants to lose his or her life because of IPOB.

“It is a big challenge facing us. Many of the ad hoc workers already recruited are throwing in the towel because of the IPOB threats; even the drivers, who we always use to distribute the materials.

“All of them contacted, told us they are not interested. So, our hands are tied. These people called IPOB have really dealt with the people of the Southeast.

“If nothing is done urgently, the election we’ve been preparing for, for so long a time may not hold; even if it holds, who is prepared to risk his or her life to come out?”

Anambra State governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Dr. Chidozie Nwankwo, has said said his winning chances continue brighten with what he called an upsurge of followers from other political parties and groups to identify with him.

He told reporters in Awka, the state capital, that he had, in the past one week, been busy receiving grassroots politicians from other political parties, like the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressive Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The AAC candidate said community leaders and traders from the popular Onitsha market had also pledged their support for him, ahead of the November 6 election.

Read Also: No going back on election, despite threat, says commission

Nwankwo, who is the Chairman/CEO Witech Groups, said the upsurge was not unconnected with his wide popularity and acceptability across the state coupled with his campaign to usher in a new dawn to restore, renew and rebuild Anambra.

He promised that, if elected, he would change the governance style.

Nwankwo said: “If I have made huge contributions in building home-grown economy as a private businessman, why can’t I do much better in ensuring good governance as a governor?”