How APGA’s Obiano Won Anambra Again

 

How APGA’s Obiano Won Anambra Again

The electoral body in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared the incumbent governor of Anambra State and candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Willie Obiano, the winner of the governorship election held yesterday.

Obiano had a landslide victory in all 21 local government areas with a total of 234, 071 votes and returned for his second tenure of four years.

The All Progressives Congress’s candidate Tony Nwoye came a distant second after garnering 98, 752. The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party Oseloka Obaze polled 70, 293.

The candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP) Osita Chidoka, who came fourth with 7, 903 votes. 36 political parties filed for the election, haggling for the ballots of about 2.2 million registered voters  

This newspaper had predicted with the benefit of hindsight, that APGA, the ‘resident’ political party in Anambra, will win the election “not because of the charisma of the incumbent governor but because of the cultural and historical affiliation the citizens have with the founder of the party, late Dim, Odumegwu Ojukwu. Ojukwu was the leader of the Biafran war between 1967 to 1970”.

Until his death on 26 November 2011, Ojukwu was still seen as the leader of the Igbo race, South-East Nigeria and the citizens, especially in his home state, Anambra, have developed that umbilical relationship with Ojukwu’s party, APGA.

That relationship between Anambra and APGA is likely to speak in today’s election.

Governor Willie Obiano’s political campaigns have hinted on this historical relationship while he asked the citizens to vote for APGA to “preserve the vision, tradition and ideals of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Ikemba Nnewi” so that the “ofo” (symbol of innocence) of the Igbo people that was handed over to him would not destroyed or taken away by strangers.

Obiano, who is facing a re-election challenge had his security details removed on Tuesday by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. Idris had said the Governor’s aides would be restored after the governorship election on Saturday.

But Obiano complained directly to President Muhammadu Buhari about the withdrawal of his security aides and Buhari directed Joshak Habila, the Deputy Inspector General of police, to facilitate the reinstatement of Obiano’s aides.