Obaze rejects election result as Obiano dedicates victory to Ndi Anambra

Mr Oseloka Obaze, the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has rejected the result of Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State.
Obaze, in a statement on Sunday, said the result as released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not reflect what happened in the field.
The Commission  had declared Mr Willie Obiano of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) as the winner of the election.
The Returning Officer, Prof. Zana Akpagu, said Obiano polled 234, 071 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Tony Nwoye of All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 98, 752 votes.
Akpagu, the Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar, said Obaze came third with 70,293 votes.
Thirty-six candidates contested the election.
He said that the total valid votes cast at the poll was 422,314; total number of rejected votes, 26,457 while the total votes cast was 448,771 votes.
Obaze said there were cases of inconsistency and over voting when compared with the records from the electronic card reader.
He also said it was an aberration that APGA could win all the 21 local governments.
“The Anambra governorship election results just released by INEC, does not reflect the realities of the votes cast on November 18 by Anambra electorate.
“The over voting and inconsistencies between the counted ballots and card reader data remains exceedingly worrisome.
“The uniformity of the incumbent governor winning twenty-one local governments is a political aberration in the context of Anambra politics.
“The election result as reported, shows that nothing matters to the Anambra electorate.
“The people have spoken, they have taken a cursory long term view of what they wish for Anambra State.”
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Dr Ukwachukwu Orji, commended the electorate for exhibiting good behaviour, saying “no bloodshed was recorded”.
“Let this election not divide the people of the state but bring you together,” he said
Orji said that Obiano would get his  certificate of return from INEC on Wednesday.
“We promised free, fair and credible poll and that is what we have fulfilled that,” he said.
In his reaction, Obiano said his victory does not belong to him or APGA but to all the people of Anambra
Obiano, in his acceptance speech titled, ‘Time to Build a New World”, in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government on Sunday, declared that “this sweet victory belongs to Ndi Anambra”.
“It belongs to the wheelbarrow pushers and the okada riders who have clearly seen in our recent political experience, a glimmer of light in the horizon.
“It belongs to the farmers in Ayamelum, Onono, Ogbaru, Omasi, Omor and Ufuma who have now realised that agriculture is the future of Nigeria.
“It belongs to the teachers and civil servants who have seen that a motivated workforce is the greatest asset of any government.
“It belongs to the illustrious sons and daughters of Anambra State who have seen the STAR of this great state rise in the Eastern Skies and have answered our call to  bring home their naira and dollars to put our dear state on the investment map.
“This victory belongs to all of us. My dear people, this victory is not a winner takes it all.”
Obiano  said “in the New Anambra of my dream, everyone is a winner.”
He  urged other governorship candidates to join in building the new Anambra that the citizens would be proud of.
“I say to you; my brothers, we have all fought a good fight, but Anambra State is the winner.
“The interest of Anambra State is bigger than the private ambitions of anyone of us.
“Our beloved state needs our talent and our time. The time to build a better place is now.
He described the victory as “a referendum on the solid resolve of the people of Anambra to rise above average in all endeavours.
“We have demonstrated that we are indeed capable of taking charge of our lives and making difficult decisions that will brighten the future of our children.
“I have no doubt in my mind that we shall continue to lay the building blocks for a prosperous tomorrow for all.
“This mandate is dear to my heart. I see it as a historic call to inspire my people to greatness. I see it as a call to deny myself sleep that my people might sleep better.
“I will not give myself rest until our beloved state has fully assumed the status of the model state of Nigeria. This is my promise to you all.”
He said the victory did not come by chance but the final product of the combined efforts of brilliant men and women who sacrificed their comfort to ensure that Anambra’s steady march to progress was not derailed.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for proving to the people of Anambra that under his watch, democracy would have deeper roots in Nigeria.
“Mr President promised us a free and fair election. Today, we can all see that he has kept his promise.’’
He thanked INEC for conducting a transparent election in the state, stressing that with this election, the commission had shown that it was prepared for the 2019 elections.
Obiano commended the security operatives whose alertness ensured that the will of the people was not thwarted.
The governor said “my team and I shall never fail you” and urged the people to prepare for the speedy transformation of Anambra into a prosperous sub-national entity in the next four years.
“We have stepped into our finest hour. Our journey into greatness is now assured.
“We are ready and willing to work with anyone who has something to share that will make Anambra State great. 
‘’We are open to new ideas, new visions of society and a new hope,’’ he declared
Meanwhile, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has congratulated Obiano on his re-election.
He described Obiano’s re-election  as a ”well-deserved victory”.
In a congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary, Petra Onyegbule, in Lokoja, Bello commended Buhari for ensuring a level-playing ground for all candidates in the election.
He said that the president’s action was a proof by the APC-led Federal Government to ensure credible, free, fair and peaceful elections and respect for the rule of law under his leadership.
“On behalf of the Government and good people of Kogi State, I congratulate the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Mr. Willie Obiano, for a well-deserved victory.
“I equally congratulate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, on the peaceful, free and fair election in Anambra State, acceptable to all.
“Ensuring a peaceful, free and fair election is a testament to the fact that President Buhari embodies and exemplifies the Change Mantra of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The voice of the people spoke loudly and it has resonated for all to hear. This is the singular most prominent feature of a democracy which allows people to choose their leader out of many contestants,” he said.
Bello, however, applauded the candidate of APC, Mr Tony Nwoye, for putting up a good fight, and described him as “a winner through whom the APC has become entrenched in Anambra State.
“As a people, we shall continue to consolidate on the gains we have made over the past 16 years as we break new progressive frontiers.”