From Nweke Nweke, Awka
All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) delegates from seven local government areas that make up the Anambra North senatorial district last Saturday spoke under one accord by electing Hon. Dubem Obaze, the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during the administration of Mr. Peter Obi as their flag-bearer, come 2015 general elections.
The accreditation of delegates that voted started behind scheduled as the election was held in Chuba Ikpazu mini-stadium in Onitsha South Council Area of the State and was dully supervised by security agents, some INEC officials while media practitioners observed the exercise.
Five APGA heavy weights, Chief Mike Okechukwu Areh, Chief Patrick Obianwu, Hon. Dubem Obaze, Chief Nelson Onubuogu and Chief Emmanuel Okafor stood for the election.
At the end of the accreditation, the total of four hundred and fifty-three (453) delegates were accredited, out of which, four hundred and fifty (450) delegates voted and seven void votes were recorded, therefore making the total valid votes to four hundred and forty-three (443) votes.
Announcing the result at the end of the exercise, the Chairman of the Electoral Panel, Hon. Tony Nnacheta, currently the Hon. Commissioner for Youths and Sports in the State, declared Hon. Dubem Obaze winner, having pulled two hundred and nineteen (219) votes, while his close rival, Chief Patrick Obianwu scored one hundred and forty-five (145) votes.
The rest of the results announced are, Chief Mike Areh, thirty-nine (39) votes; Chief Nelson Onubuogu and Chief Emmanuel Okafor scored twenty-six (26) and thirteen (13) votes respectively.
Demonstrating that the delegates went against the wish of the State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano said to have anointed one of the contestant, (not Obaze), the Electoral Panel, Hon. Tony Nnacheta, after counting the votes at the end of the exercise.
Instead of declaring the result immediately after the election, Hon. Tony Nnnacheta said, “we are grateful with the behaviour of the delegates and cooperation of every other person that participated in today’s exercise. As you can see, the election was peaceful, free, fair and transparent but the party at the state level has the final say.”
The comment of the Anambra North Senatorial District electoral empire of the day, did not only irritate the delegates but was viewed by political analysts at the venue as an attempt to rob Hon. Dubem Obaze of the mandate of the members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA in the senatorial district entrusted in his hands.
The intending action(s) of the powers that be was resisted and the result was announced under the watch of the newly promoted Deputy Commissioner of Police, Benjamin Wuord the Navy officials and the men of the DSS
.
Some of the delegates who spoke under the condition of anonymous, however threatened that any move to cancel or tamper with the voice votes of the masses will be viewed as an attempt to murder the All Progressives Grand Alliance, not only in the senatorial district but in the State by extension.
However, the result sheets were made available to the law enforcement agents, the media practitioners, delegates, amongst others.
