INEC Presents Certificate of Return to Uba, Ekwunife, Oduah , others as APGA kicks

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday presented certificate of Return to the winners of the National

Assembly elections in Anambra state, as presided over by INEC’s Commissioner for South-East zone , Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku and Anambra state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Edwin Nwatarali.

Those who were presented the Certificates of Return by INEC  in the last   included three Senators-elect  of PDP namely  Senator Andy Uba  who is returning to his seat for Anambra South Senatorial District, Mrs Uche Ekwunife, who is moving up from her seat as the member of the House of Representatives for Anaocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia Federal Constituency to the Senate seat for Anambra Central Senatorial District  and Princess Stella Oduah, former Aviation Minister who won the seat for Anambra North Senatorial District.

In the House of Representatives, PDP won majority of the seats with the exception of Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency seat won by Gabriel Onyenweife of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), while no Certificate was presented to the PDP winners of  Orumba North and South Federal Constituency seat on account of court order retraining the presentation of Certificate to Ben Nwankwo  and absentee Okey Eze of PDP, winner for Anaocha/Njikoka/ Dunukofia.

The rest of the Federal Constituency seats won by the PDP are Anayo Nnebe (Awka North and Awka South), Eucharia Azodo (Aguata), Peter Madubueze (Anambra East and West), Chukwuka Onyema (Ogbaru), Obinna Chidoka (Idemili North and South), Chukwuemeka Anohu (Ihiala), Chris Azubogu (Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo) and Emeka Godwin Idu (Onitsha North and South).

Presenting the Certificates to the representatives-elect, INEC’s National Commissioner for Anambra, Benue and Abia Zone, Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku who said election is a game in which a loser and winner must emerge advised losers who feel aggrieved to go to the Tribunal for justice, pointing out that power comes from God.

Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Engineer Edwin Nwatalari who reminded the losers on the need to seek justice in court stressed that INEC does not cancel election once the result is declared by the Returning Officer and such return made.

He stated that  the Commission was prepared to obey any court order issued by a competent court irrespective of whether Certificate of Return has been issued or not.

Reacting to her victory, Senator-Elect for Anambra Central Senatorial District, Hon Uche Ekwunife expressed immense gratitude that she was being elevated from the Lower Chamber to the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, describing it as an honour.

Ekwunife reiterated her determination to provide quality representation as the People’s Senator while calling on her rivals who lost the contest to join hands with her to move the Senatorial District forward, since power belonged to God and the people elected her.

In particular, she pledged not to disappoint her constituents and called on the APGA candidate, Chief Victor Umeh to accept defeat in the true spirit of sportsmanship.

Also speaking, the only APGA winner for the House of Representatives seat for Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency, Hon. Gabriel Onyenweife disclosed that his election from the State House of Assembly for Ayamelum to the Federal Constituency would witness effective representation, revealing that parts of his Constituency was yet to get power connected to the national grid over ten years now, among other infrastructural amenities lacking in the area. He reminded that his constituency is agro based and whatever he is doing will be in that direction.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has said it is determined to recover what it tagged their stolen mandate from those who received certificates of return.

They accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of stealing National Assembly seats it won, adding that PDP manipulated the electoral process to secure victory, which it says it would recover through lawful means.

APGA has announced it is heading for the Tribunal alongside its aggrieved candidates from the 3 senatorial zones and 9 aggrieved Federal constituencies in Anambra State. They have already handed in their petitions to the party headquarters, for onward transmission to the Election tribunal at Awka on Friday, April 17, this year.