Willie Obiano kicks off re-election bid, Ngige heads APC campaign

• Main opposition candidate upbeat about victory

Governor Willie Obiano yesterday enjoined his opponents to ensure that there was peace before, during and after next month’s gubernatorial election in Anambra State. He reminded them that they were brothers who must resist every temptation to turn the contest into a do-or-die affair. 

Obiano, who made the appeal during a rally at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka to kick off his re-election campaign, in company of his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, pledged to sustain, in the next four years, the various developmental projects embarked upon by his administration. He pleaded with the electorate to return him to finish the work he had begun.

Receiving the party flag from the state chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Oye, the governor asked the grassroots to work for his success, stressing that his administration had initiated and completed several projects in the health, education sectors as well as infrastructure for the benefit of the masses.

However, the National Treasurer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief George Moghalu, has called for genuine reconciliation in the state chapter of the party to ensure victory at the November 18 polls.Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting yesterday in Awka, Moghalu maintained that the political grouping couldn’t afford to go into the election with what he described as a fragmented and disunited party.

The national officer noted that though the grievances generated by the primary were expected, he, however, cautioned that they should be handled with care to instill in the aggrieved losers and stalwarts a sense of belonging during this electioneering period.He stressed that it was important for the reconciliation efforts to follow immediately, warning that it would be wrong for the party to deploy detractors as agents at the wards or polling units who may turn round to work against its interest.

Moghalu enjoined the losers in the primary to sensitise their supporters on working as a united family for the success of the party’s candidate at the poll.The party chief, who was among the losing contenders, said it was easier for him to accept the outcome because of his belief in God’s wish.

Meanwhile, the APC candidate for the election, Dr. Tony Nwoye, says he would emerge victorious in a free and fair exercise.Speaking at the event, he maintained that the party had all it takes to win the polls.

Warning that rigging was impossible at the forthcoming election, he condemned those criticising the Federal Government over the military operations in parts of the South East geopolitical zone.Besides, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has been appointed as the chairman of the party’s 50-man campaign team. 

Announcing the members of the panel and other directorates at the parley, the state party chairman, Emeka Ibe, said the team was carefully selected to achieve result.Moghalu was made deputy chairman while Osita Ezenwa emerged director general and Azubike Okwuosa got the post of deputy director of campaign.