[ANAMBRA ELECTION: UMEH BOMBS NGIGE, NWOYE, UBA] --------------------------------------- The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) at the weekend replied proponents of cancellation of results of the November 16 Anambra governorship election, describing those behind the clamour as enemies of Nigeria’s democracy. National Chairman of the Party, Chief Victor Umeh specifically accused the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has been leading the campaign for the cancellation of the results as playing what he called “alaye” politics. APC, on Thursday, petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding a cancellation of the election and the conduct of a fresh election by the commission. The petition was signed by the Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and Interim National Secretary, Tijani Tumsah. INEC last week declared the election inconclusive and announced that it would conduct a supplementary election in areas where it recorded challenges in the November 16 poll. The results declared by the commission placed APGA in a clear lead, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APC came a distant second and third. The trio of APC, Labour Party and PDP candidates, Dr Chris Ngige, Chief Ifeanyi Uba and Chief Tony Nwoye, respectively, rejected results announced by INEC. They also rejected the planned supplementary election. But the PDP said it was satisfied with the conduct of the election and threw its weight behind the supplementary election. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metu, dismissed claims that the election was marred by irregularities. However, speaking with Sunday Sun, Umeh tongue-lashed APC and other proponents of cancellation of the election and branded them as enemies of democracy. He said: “By leading this type of campaign, APC has shown clearly that it is an alaye party, it is ready to destroy anything if it cannot get it. It is dishing out the propaganda that the election was manipulated because the people of Anambra rejected it at the election.” He continued: “It is now clear to Nigerians that APC is a violent party, it is ready to undermine critical institutions in the bid to achieve a self-serving agenda. It is worrisome that this is the kind of culture APC is bringing to the political space. It is only when it wins that an election can be considered free and fair. This type of politics is a big threat to democracy. APC did everything within its power to rig the election including sending hundreds of thugs to Anambra. But it was not lucky as security operatives nabbed the thugs on their way to Anambra.” The APGA chairman declared that the party won the governorship election decently, arguing that Ngige was crying of rigging because he was allegedly used to manipulation of election. His words: “I laugh when somebody like Ngige is coming out to shamelessly talk about election rigging. In a sane society somebody like him would not be allowed to contest election. He rigged himself into office in 2003; he enjoyed the mandate that was not his until courts sacked him. He thinks that everybody behaves the same way. APGA has always believed in people’s power; we won in Imo State decently in 2011, we won in Anambra on November 16 decently and we hope to win the entire South East in 2015 decently. APC is merely crying wolf. We won in 16 local governments, we had two thirds in almost all the councils. Those who are seeking for cancellation know that Anambrarians rejected them roundly.” Umeh submitted that those seeking for the cancellation of the election were doing so out of ignorance. According to him, INEC is constitutionally barred to cancel results of an election it has declared. “APC lawyers should tutor the party on what the law says regarding results of elections declared by INEC,” the APGA chairman advised.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 07:44:56 +0000
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