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INEC presents certificate of return to Soludo, Ibezim

By Osiberoha Osibe, Awka
13 November 2021   |   3:02 am
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, presented certificates of return to the Anambra State Governor-elect, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and the Deputy Governor-elect

Prof. Chukwuma Soludo receiving his Certificate of Return on Friday in Awka from Mr Festus Okoye. [NAN-PHOTO]

Uba Denies Rejecting Poll Results

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, presented certificates of return to the Anambra State Governor-elect, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and the Deputy Governor-elect, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim.

They are the winners of the November 2021 Anambra Stater governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, who presented the certificates to Soludo and Ibezim at the INEC Headquarters, Awka, said the exercise followed the conclusion of the election and as provided for in Section 75 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
Soludo would be sworn in as the successor to Governor Willie Obiano whose second tenure expires on March 17, 2022.

The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye, said the presentation followed an initial review of the governorship election by the commission in Abuja on Thursday.

Meanwhile, there is confusion over the conflicting positions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the next step its governorship candidate, Senator Andy Uba, would take after the party suffered defeat by Soludo in the election.

Already, Uba has denied reports making the rounds that he had rejected the outcome of the governorship election.

Uba’s denial of rejection of the poll result was contained in a statement issued by the Deputy Director, Media and Publicity of his campaign organization, Ikechukwu Emeka Onyia.

Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe, who spoke on behalf of the campaign organization, had two days ago faulted the outcome of the election that produced APGA candidate as the winner.

He expressed surprise how APGA that allegedly lost almost 80 per cent of its stalwarts through defection to the APC before the election could come out victorious.

Those who defected from APGA include its sitting deputy governor, a serving senator, seven members of the House of Representatives, 10 members of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Board of Trustees members and serving special assistants and senior special assistants.

“What happened on November 6, 2021, fell far below the acceptable standard of a free and fair election and can best be described as an electoral fraud perpetrated by the INEC, Willie Obiano Administration and the security forces,” he alleged.

But Onyia, refuting the report on behalf of Uba, noted: “The campaign organisation has not made any categorical statement on the said election especially on whether our candidate rejected or accepted results of just-concluded Anambra State election.

“The organization stated that it will be too early to make an official statement by their candidate without meeting with his team and the party. His reaction will be made public after meeting and analysing the entire process this weekend.”

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