Enugu Gov Poll: Ezea’s lone voice in the wilderness

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