By Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has won all the 21 chairmanship and 326 councillorship seats in the Aug. 29 Local Government elections held in Anambra.
Declaring the results on Sunday, the Chairman of Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), Mrs Genevieve Osakwe, said the election was free, fair and credible.
She said also that the election was conducted peacefully in accordance with the state electoral laws and guidelines.
Osakwe said APGA fielded candidates for various positions across the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs), while the Young Progressives Party (YPP) fielded a chairmanship candidate only in Anambra East.
She said APGA won in 20 LGAs through a “Yes or No” voting pattern, having produced sole candidates, while in Anambra East, APGA polled 50,169 votes to defeat YPP, which scored 1,658 votes.
“I hereby declare the APGA candidates winners after polling the majority of votes for all the positions.
“I reaffirm the declaration of councillorship results already declared at the local government levels and append the commission’s approval to the outcome of the elections”.
The ANSIEC chairman congratulated the winners and urged them to serve with a high sense of responsibility.
She also appealed to candidates who lost the election to accept the outcome in the spirit of democratic competition.
Osakwe commended voters, political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, ANSIEC personnel and the media for their support in the conduct of the election.
“The electoral process also provides lawful avenues for challenging any results where legitimate grounds exist”.
The elected chairpersons and the LGAs were Kingsley Ezeagu (Aguata), Ifeanyi Chinwzee (Anambra East), Tony Obierika (Anambra West), Paulinus Okafor (Anaocha) ThankgGod Anago (Awka North) and Chinedu Okafor (Awka South).
Others were Mgbechi Igwebuike (Ayamelum), Clement Ozumba (Dunukofia), Ifeanyi Onuchukwu (Ekwusigo), Stanley Nkwoka (Idemili North), Oluchukwu Ilogbenam (Idemili South), Anayo Orjiakor (Ihiala) and Ikechukwu Okakpu (Njikoka).
Also elected were Echezona Anazodo (Nnewi North), Chinedu Ezeogidi (Nnewi South), Nnamdi Ifejika (Ogbaru), Chukwuemelie Ibekwe (Onitsha North), Okechukwu Mofunanya (Onitsha South).
Others were Casmir Nwafor (Orumba North), Shedrack Azubuike, (Orumba South) and Igbem Elochukwu (Oyi).
However, the YPP candidate, Mr Sunday Nnabuife, alleged that his agents and party members were barred at gunpoint from entering the polling units or monitoring the process on Saturday.
The YPP spokesman in Anambra East LGA, Mr Charles Ifediora, accused the ruling APGA of using the Agunechemba Security operative to harass and intimidate members and agents of the party.
