The Peoples Democratic
Party,PDP,governorship candidate,Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s victory
at the April 11
poll was a testament to his blistering popularity. It also showed how strong
PDP is in Enugu. His victory was so clear and was predicted. And that’s
apparently why there’s condemnation of calls from the All Progressive
Congress,APC,candidate,Okey Ezea, seeking cancellation of the poll adjudged by
international observers as free, fair and credible.
The electorate in Enugu State had
trooped out in large numbers to demonstrate their choice which was shown in the
outcome of the poll where PDP got 482,277 votes against his main
challenger,Ezea who secured a mere 43,839 votes.
Ezea, a fourth time contender to the
seat had waited in the wings for PDP missteps which apparently was why APC did
not campaign enough to woo voters for the election in Enugu State. It only
showed its presence barely ten days to election following Gen Muhammed
Buhari,retd, victory at the presidential election. Enugu voted massively for
the PDP in the Presidential election and did same for the gubernatorial. It had
been a traditional PDP state and one of the states the opposition stood no
chance.
Lashing out to Ezea’s call for
cancellation,a group,under the umbrella of Enugu-042 Peoples Assembly,EPA,
dismissed calls from Ezea seeking the cancellation of the April 11 poll
alleging that PDP, and Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, colluded
to ensure Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s victory.
EPA stand followed outburst by Ezea
attacking PDP,INEC and security agencies for allegedly manipulating the process
in favour of the PDP candidate.
In statement jointly signed by EPA
Chairman and Secretary respectively,Oliver Nweke and Innocent Ozoemena,
respectively, the group said,”it is baseless and unfounded. Calls by Ezea
seeking the cancellation of a free,fair and credible poll which we monitored in
the company of international observers,media and security agencies are uncalled
for.
“His allegation of ‘collusion and
manipulation’ is most unfortunate at a time losers congratulate the winners in
good faith. His latest attack on INEC, security agencies and the PDP is capable
of misleading the public and undermining the credibility of the entire
electoral exercise in the state, which we painstakingly monitored.
“EPA therefore describes the allegations
by Ezea as not only mischievous, but also another fruitless attempt by him to
overheat the polity, misrepresent facts and discredit INEC and the process of
the elections which had been widely acclaimed as transparent, credible and
peaceful.”
Again,the Christian Association of
Nigeria,CAN, Enugu State chapter had while reacting to Ezea’s agitation
said,”God answered our prayers in Ugwuanyi.”
CAN had earlier prayed for
Ugwuanyi’s victory asking God to give Enugu State a leader that will have a listening
ear which it saw in the governor-elect.
Addressing newsmen at the Enugu
State Governor-elect residence on behalf of the christian community in the
state,CAN, Chairman Enugu State,Christian Obiefuna said,”All the christian
denominations in Enugu State converged at Michael Okpara Square and prayed,
asking God to bestow Ugwuanyi on us for he will address the infrastructural
challenges plaguing the state.
“We are here to thank God and
appreciate him and also ask God to continue working in him that Enugu State may
have a godly face in his reign.”
On the conduct of the poll, the
clerics eulogized the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, and
security agencies for the professional manner the April 11 election was
conducted in a free,fair and credible atmosphere. He however assured the people
of Enugu State that the incoming administration will lead with the fear of God
in the midst of daunting challenges. In almost all parts of Enugu the
celebration of Ugwuanyi’s emergence has continued.
Written By Francis Igata
Enugu Gov Poll: Ezea’s lone voice in the wilderness
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Friday, May 01, 2015
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