Anambra 2021: ‘No election was conducted in Ihiala LGA,’ declares INEC
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR]
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the poll in Ihiala local government area of Anambra State was void, as it ruled that no election was held in the council, as it further fixed Tuesday, November 9 as date for a fresh exercise.
According to INEC Returning Officer (RO) for the Anambra Governorship election, Prof. Florence Obi, who made the announcement Sunday night in Awka, the state capital, adhoc workers and transporters engaged by the Commission had reported late to duty which necessitated the stoppage of election in the area.
Quoting relevant sections of the Electoral Act and the nation’s Constitution, Obi said it would be wrong to announce the result without allowing people in 131 polling units in Ihiala to exercise their civic duties.
Before suspending collation, Obi, who is also the Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar, announced the scores of candidates.
According to her, Prof. Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) polled a total of 103, 946 votes followed by Mr Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 51,322 votes to emerged second.
Senator Andy Uba, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate got a total of 42,942 votes to emerge the third position.
Obi, said that Soludo won in 18 out of the 20 Local Government Areas of the State already declared.
She listed the areas where Soludo won to include; Dunukofia, Awka South, Oyi, Anaocha, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Idemili South and Onitsha South.
The APGA candidate also won in Njikoka, Orumba South, Onitsha North, Idemili North, Ekwusigo, Aguata, Orumba North and Nnewi South Local Government Areas.
The PDP candidate, Ozigbo won in Ogbaru with 3445 votes, while APGA scored second while APC came third in the same council.
Senator Ifeanyi Uba of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) won in his home Local Government of Nnewi North in spite coming a distant fourth in the overall score card with 20, 917 votes.
The returning officer said that no election held in Ihiala and it must be given chance like others to participate in the process.
Obi stated that total number of valid votes already collated was 229,521, void votes 7,841 while total number of votes cast was 237,362.
