Anambra Central Senatorial Election Impasse:The True Story!

My heart bleeds over the sad turn of events with regard to the Anambra Central Senatorial Election held on Saturday, April 9, 2011. I am even more pained by the deliberate twisting of the facts by Dr. Chris Ngige (ACN candidate) in concert with my detractors, with the aim of tarnishing my hard-earned reputation, the integrity of the electoral process, the image ofAnambra State and the international image of our dear country, Nigeria.

This crisis is unnecessary and was orchestrated by Dr. Ngige when it dawned on him that I was winning the election. Many Anambra people are not surprised because he is well known for shameful electoral tactics. Dr. Ngige is so used to rigging elections that it has become difficult for him to come to terms with the type of credible elections that INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega planned for 2011. In 2003 he rigged himself into power to become the governor ofAnambra State, a seat he illegally occupied for 3 years. In 2010 he tried to rig again but the good people of Anambra State resisted it. Unable to accept defeat, he went to court and he is still in court for that gubernatorial election.

GENESIS OF THE CRISIS

Based on available information from INEC, the 2011 Anambra Central Senatorial problem started even before voting commenced. Prof. Godwin Onu, the Returning Officer for the Zone, was nowhere to be found, apparently having changed his mind about the assignment at the last minute. Determined to see that the election held, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukogu, around 10 a.m. that Saturday appointed Dr. Alex Anene as the new Returning Officer for the Zone, after many credible Anambrarians who were contacted turned down the offer. Dr. Anene was not trained for the job because of the circumstances surrounding his appointment. He also did not take oath of allegiance as required by law. Apart from being overwhelmed by the assignment, he seems to have seen his position as an opportunity to make fast money. 

When results started coming to the senatorial district collation centre from various local governments, Dr. Anene suddenly abandoned the collated results and disappeared. At the time Dr Anene absconded from duty, all the results were ready except that of Idemili North Local Government. He was next seen on Sunday evening (April 10) on TV addressing a press conference at a hotel. In that press conference, Dr. Anene claimed that he came under pressure from APGA and the Anambra State Government to rig the election in my favour – a baseless allegation which has since been denied.

Based on the above scenario, the REC, Prof. Onukogu, declared Dr. Anene as having absconded from duty and appointed Prof. Charles Esimone to replace him. It is important to note that this same Prof. Esimone was the Returning Officer for Idemili North Local Government where Dr. Ngige had 22,559 votes (the highest number of votes from a local government in the election). He returned this number in spite of complaints from APGA agents that the results from most of the polling booths were heavily rigged in favour of Dr. Ngige. Yet the impression is now being created by the Ngige camp that this same Prof. Esimone is my agent! 

On Monday morning, April 11, the REC, Prof. Onukogu, held a press conference in the INEC office at Awka, during which he introduced Prof. Esimone as the new Returning Officer for Anambra Central Senatorial District following Dr. Anene’s abscondment from duty. Prof. Esimone thereafter declared the results. For the concluded votes, I polled 66,273 while Dr. Ngige got 65,576. INEC however declared the election inconclusive and ordered a re-run in 4 wards and 4 polling booths.

Events took a comical turn at 9:45 p.m. on the same day, when Dr. Anene assembled some journalists at a hotel in Awka and announced that Dr. Ngige had won the election by scoring 68,208 votes against the 68,164 votes which he allotted to me. The press conference was not attended by any INEC official or agents of the political parties as required by law.

I am surprised that anyone can take Dr. Anene’s illegal action serious. It is ridiculous, null and void as it clearly contradicts the Electoral Act, which requires that results be announced at the INEC office IN THE PRESENCE OF INEC OFFICIALS, AGENTS OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES THAT CONTESTED THE ELECTION AND SECURITY AGENCIES.

Both the REC, Prof. Onukogu, and INEC Chairman Prof. Jega, have since declared that Dr. Anene absconded from duty and was replaced. That makes any action that he took null and void and of no effect whatsoever. I welcome the INEC chairman’s decision to investigate the issue, and I look forward to getting justice at the end of the day.

THE EMBARRASSING ALLEGATION OF BRIBERY ATTEMPT

I have noted with dismay a further twisting of the allegation by Dr. Anene. For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Anene never at any time during his press conferences accused me of any attempt to compromise him. I therefore urge Nigerians and the international community to disregard any attempt by my detractors to create the impression that I in any way acted contrary to the forthright manner for which I have always been known and for which I will always continue to be known.

I urge the security agencies to do their work and thoroughly investigate Dr. Anene’s claims and activities during and after the election, and to bring whoever is found to have engaged in any corrupt practice to book.

In conclusion, I urge all my dear friends, supporters and well wishers to remain calm and intensify prayers on my behalf. I take solace in the fact that Almighty God is still on the throne and that, as the saying goes, “No matter how fast falsehood runs, the truth will eventually catch up with it.”

SIGNED

Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili, OFR

APGA Senatorial Candidate for Anambra Central

Nkitaku Village, Agulu, Anambra State.

Thursday, April 14, 2011.