Category: Anambra Election

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has said the defection of Anambra State deputy governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is of no consequence to the ruling party.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by APGA National Publicity Secretary, Tex Okechukwu, said the deputy governor’s defection was long expected since he had allegedly been complaining about his inability to secure the governorship ticket of the party for the November election.

“The deputy governor had thought that the governor and the party were going to hand over the governorship ticket of the party in the last primary to him on a platter. When that didn’t happen, he started behaving abnormally, even to the point of insubordination and dereliction of duties,” the statement said.

The Nation learnt that the deputy governor left APGA without formal notification to the party or his principal.

The statement said Okeke’s action was uncalled for, ill-timed and ill-advised, “as the governor had always treated him with respect, love and consideration”.

APGA frowned at the perceived desperation of the APC in the build-up to the November 6 governorship poll, urging its members to remain united to win the election with wider margin.

Read Also: Anambra 2021: Six feared killed as gunmen attack APGA campaign rally

The APGA reaction came as President Muhammadu Buhari hosted Okeke yesterday in Abuja.

Okeke was presented to the President at the Presidential Villa by the APC Caretaker Chairman and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni.

Also present at the brief ceremony was Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, who was also at the Presidential Villa for a meeting with President Buhari.

Uzodinma, who is also the Chairman of Anambra State APC Governorship Campaign Council, confirmed this to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Buhari.

He said: “Our people are now willing to join the winning team, which is the APC. At the last count, eight members of the House of Representatives from APGA and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have joined the APC.

“Just this afternoon, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State joined the APC and has been presented to the President. So, what is remaining?

“If there is any strong parameter for conducting an opinion poll, this exodus of legislators and the second-in-command in Anambra State should automatically translate into electoral victory,” he said.

 

 

Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige has debunked the claim in some quarters that he declined to be the Trustees’ Chairman of Senator Andy Uba Campaign Organisation.

The former Anambra State governor, who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, described the social media report as fake.

In a statement, the minister said he never spoke with anyone on the matter, adding that people should be careful the way they try to tarnish fellow beings’ reputation on social media.

“The malicious article circulating in the social media with the title: Chris Ngige Backs Out of Andy Uba Project, with the attendant campaign of calumny against the person of distinguished Senator Andy Uba (Igwebuike) did not emanate from me or my media aides.

Read Also: NLC, Ngige mourn NECA DG, Olawale

“It is a poorly written fake news. It is very wrong,” he said.

Last week, at the campaign office of Senator Uba at Udoka Housing Estate in Awka, the state capital, said Ngige was named the Chairman of the Board of Trustee (BoT) of the campaign organisation alongside other notable personalities.

At the inauguration of the campaign outfit by Uba himself, other members of the organisation were named for Finance, Media and Publicity, Security, among others.

 

A founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has wooed the leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for a merger with APC, in the Zikist Model strategy, to win the November 6 governorship poll.

Okechukwu, who is a member of the APC National Campaign Council for Anambra State Governorship Election, told reporters in Abuja yesterday that APGA leaders should know that it is far better to be late than to be the late.

The VON boss insisted that APGA was on the way to losing its first governorship contest in Anambra State after 16 years.

“It is for this reason that I wish to appeal once more to APGA leaders to explore a Zikist Model merger with APC for a guaranteed seamless victory in the November 6 polls. In saying this, I know for sure that APC can win without APGA but would enjoy the seamless victory with a Zikist Model merger,” he said.

Two months ago Okechukwu urged APGA leader to key into an all-important merger, to kill two birds with one stone by joining the mainstream and paving way for the emergence of Nigeria President of Igbo extraction.

On speculations that APC was plotting a forceful takeover of Anambra through the institution of the state of emergency, Okechukwu explained that a merger of the two parties would not only cool the political temperature but will also moderate the environment and end up as a political masterstroke.

Read Also: APC youths advise against ex-Govs as National chair

He recalled the history of political understanding between President Muhammadu Buhari and the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, stressing that it was in that spirit that President Buhari assured Governor Willie Obiano recently last week, that there was no cause for alarm as a declaration of a state of emergency was not on the cards.

His words: “Whereas, I have my sympathy for the families of victims of banditry in Anambra and by extension Nigeria in general; however it is my considered opinion that we should repeat the cordial relationship between with Ikemba, Odumegwu Ojukwu, and President Buhari when he led APGA to a political understanding with the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) led by Buhari. We can repeat this Zikist feat, for it is better to be late than the late.”

He further recalled a similar political camaraderie in 2013, when a faction of APGA joined the merger of APC, adding that President Buhari more or less saved Governor Obiano from opponents of his re-election bid in 2017.

“So, as I said two months ago, the suggestion flows from the prism of pragmatic Zikist political model, which joins us with APGA. Pragmatism is the best strategy for Ndigbo to kill two birds with one stone because if APGA fuses into APC, that will give APC three states in the South East geopolitical zone – a milestone.”

Okechukwu insisted that APGA was missing the point by seeking to remain as a big fish in a small pond of regional politics that has only earned it just one state in the entire federation.

“A merger will not only more than any other factor guarantee Ndigbo the presidential ticket of the APC; but it will safe APGA from the likelihood of withering away, without tangible dividends of democracy for its followership. Anybody who watched His Excellency Willy Obiano in the State House, Aso Rock, closely will notice palpable panic. APC and APGA merger will stop this panic as a Win-Win Scenario,” Okechukwu reiterated.

 

Despite its readiness with logistics for the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing hurdles over the recruitment of 10,000 ad hoc workers for the poll.

There had been poor response by ad hoc workers who will conduct the poll because of the security situation, especially the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the state.

It was gathered that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was taking precautionary measures to avoid exposing its members to killings by gunmen.

NYSC was weighing possible options last night, including how to provide tight security for corps members who will participate in the poll.

It was learnt that INEC has been holding a series of consultations with the police and other security agencies on how to protect polling units and voters across the state.

For transparency and a faster process, INEC has also concluded plans to use Bimodal Voter Accreditation Device (BVAD) for the election.

BVAD will combine two modes of voter verification: fingerprint and face biometrics for voter’s identity verification.

But recruitment of election officials appeared to be top on the agenda of the electoral commission.

According to records, INEC in May increased the polling units in Anambra State from 4,608 to 5,720 with about 10,000 ad hoc workers required for the governorship poll.

The online registration for the recruitment of ad hoc workers ended on October 3 with what a source called “poor response”.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The security situation in Anambra State is hindering the engagement of ad hoc workers. We need about 10,000 of such workers but the number is yet to add up.

“INEC is ready with all logistics and equipment for the poll except the full complement of ad hoc workers needed for the governorship election.

“The commission is looking at how to overcome this problem. Once the security challenges or implications are addressed, INEC will be able to manage the situation within a short time.”

Another source said the NYSC, which used to be the primary source of ad hoc workers, was weighing several options.

The source said: “When we had a session with NYSC, there was the initial assurance that there was enough number of corps members for the election.

Read Also: INEC resumes voter registration in Enugu State

“The same NYSC is now weighing options on the participation of corps members, including precautionary measures to avoid exposing these youths to gunmen or IPOB’s militant wing called Eastern Security Network (ESN).

“So, it is not a straightforward calculation from the NYSC. The main task at hand is how to get enough ad hoc workers.”

It was gathered last night that INEC would use BVAD for the election.

According to a National Commissioner of INEC, the same BVAD was used for Isoko South 1 State Constituency by-election in Delta State, which was about 97 per cent efficient.

The commissioner, who spoke in confidence, said: “BVAD will make the accreditation process faster and easier. It is an upgrade of our technology to improve the electoral process.

“We recorded about 97 per cent efficacy in the by-election in Delta State House of Assembly. For a sensitive poll like Anambra governorship, this new technology will be good. We want a transparent election beginning with the accreditation of voters.”

Details on BVAD from INEC are as follows: It will “combine two modes of voter verification: fingerprint and face biometrics for voter’s identity verification.

“BVAD system is a multifunctional integrated device that will serve different layers of purposes for different activities in the process of adding value to the elections in Nigeria.

“The all-in-one technology will serve as the INEC’s Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) during the commission’s voter registration exercise. It will also serve as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter accreditation on Election Day, replacing the Smart Card Readers.

“Finally, it will serve as INEC’s Result Viewing Device (IReV Device) which will be used for uploading election results on Election Day.”

Speaking recently on BVAD, INEC chairman Prof. Mamood Yakubu said: “We introduced the BVAS for efficient human recognition through a biometric verification mechanism using both fingerprint and facial recognition of voters. The result of the pilot in the 84 polling units was very encouraging indeed.

“It took an average of just one minute for the device to correctly locate the voter in the system and another two minutes to authenticate a voter. In terms of the ruggedness of the device and its battery life, no single BVAS was replaced due to the discharge of the battery throughout the voting period.

“Most importantly, the device guaranteed the credibility of voter accreditation by preventing the incidents of multiple voting or the use of stolen PVCs to vote. All voters were accredited electronically using the BVAS. The use of the incident form was eliminated. The Isoko South 1 State Constituency by-election was historic in this respect.”

 

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Andy Uba, has said incumbent Governor Willie Obiano needs to stop playing politics with widespread insecurity in the state.

In a statement yesterday in Awka, the state capital, by his Campaign Media Director, Afam Ogene, the APC candidate described Obiano as intemperate workman who quarrels with his tools by blaming everyone else but himself.

Uba’s campaign organisation was reacting to the statement by the state government, through Information and Public Enlightenment Commissioner C. Don Adinuba, on a threat by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubarka Malami, that the Federal Government might declare a state of emergency in the state, if the current state of anomie persisted.

Adinuba said: “Is the number of victims of the politically motivated violence in Anambra State anything near what the nation has seen, even in such states as Imo and Ebonyi, controlled by the ruling APC?

“Why hasn’t Malami considered a state of emergency in these APC-controlled states?”

But Uba said Malami’s reaction was a wake-up call for the state government to address the insecurity challenges in the state.

The APC candidate said it was Anambra State government’s attempt to befuddle the issues and that by so doing change the narrative.

He urged Obiano to stop buck-passing tactics.

Read ALso: APC berates Obiano for placing campaign above governors’ security meeting

Uba added: “When Governor Obiano speaks about past security challenges in neighbouring Imo and Ebonyi states, the question to ask is: didn’t governors of both states take urgent, practical steps that restored normalcy?

“When only on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, governors of the Southeast met in Enugu to seek solutions to rising insecurity, especially in Anambra, why was Obiano the only governor not in attendance?

“Why did he rather choose to go dancing on a campaign romp at Otuocha, Anambra East Local Government Area, on the same day other serious governors gathered to seek a regional solution to a problem most prevalent in his state, in spite of the fact that he is not a candidate in next month’s governorship election?

“Indeed, where are the surveillance cameras, drones, helicopters, horses and dogs which Governor Obiano claimed to have bought to tackle crime and criminality in the state?

“As a matter of fact, it is high time the governor offered explanation about the whereabouts of these security paraphernalia, especially against the widespread belief among the citizenry that most of the items have been sold and the dogs and horses used as culinary delights.

“In simple language, the problem with Anambra is that Governor Obiano has long abandoned governance… Seeking, therefore, to whimsically put the blame on politics or the Attorney General of the Federation is not only disingenuous, but downright false.

“Were there elections in sight when Awka, the state capital, Ihiala and Okija areas was turned into killing fields, in fierce cult clashes; when the commercial city of Onitsha was overwhelmed by criminals and jungle justice resurfaced; or when worshippers in Ozubulu were massacred one Sunday morning and their killers still at large; or when the whole Omabala part of the state was engulfed in bitter inter-communal clashes that have affected no fewer than 10 communities?

“In all of these instances, Governor Obiano simply refused to take charge – a beaten pathway he is still treading.

 

A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, has appealed to those behind the killings in Anambra State and other parts of the Southeast to give peace a chance.

He said continued violence in the state would affect smooth conduct of the forthcoming governorship election, including scaring voters away from the state.

Addressing reporters in his Ukpor country home in Nnewi South Local Government Area, the elder statesman, who lost his wife in July, also urged the agitators to sheathe their swords to enable him bury her in a peaceful environment.

Amechi said: “I am personally worried by the high level of violence and killings which started from about our Independence Day, particularly in Anambra State, for two reasons.

“One is that it will scare away voters in the scheduled governorship election and the other is that it may adversely affect the funeral and burial of my wife on October 28.”

Read Also: ‘For Nigeria at 61, it’s lafiya dole, Peace by Force’

The nonagenarian explained that he had initiated a move to bring about real and lasting peace and reconciliation.

He expressed optimism that peace and reconciliation would be achieved if those concerned worked together.

Amechi added: “I’m doing this as a political father of the nation and in fulfillment of a role which God expects me to play for sparing my life this long. I appeal to whoever may be responsible for these senseless killings and destruction to please drop their weapons, for you never win peace with the gun.

“As true sons and daughters of Africa, you have the inherent respect for the elders. I ask you, whoever you are, to put a stop to this violence and let me bury my wife in peace and for the Anambra election to be held.

“If you scare away voters and only 5,000 voters cast their votes, INEC will pronounce the winner and he will be sworn in to rule you for the next four years, whether you like it or not.”