Anambra Governorship Election: 5 Politicians Soludo Demystified in Southeast State
- Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo is perhaps the number one trending topic in the country at the moment
- The former Central Bank of Nigeria governor is now the governor-elect of his home state, Anambra
- The former apex bank chief, however, scaled through several political hurdles to get to his current position
Awka - With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring him as the winner of the Anambra governorship election, Professor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) shows that he has come of age in politics.
At his second attempt, and after learning the ropes during his time in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Soludo has finally gotten what he has always wanted - to govern his home state of Anambra.
Source: Facebook
By winning the contest, Soludo has demystified the so-called big wigs in Anambra politics, shutting them out in the affairs of the state government, until after four years.
The politicians who Soludo have taught a lesson politically in Anambra include:
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1. Senator Uche Ekwunife
The current senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District served as the director-general of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the election. Ekwunife assured that she will deliver Valentine Ozigbo of the PDP at the polls, but failed to make an impact even in her own local government area - Anaocha.
2. Nkem Okeke
The Anambra state deputy governor was elected twice alongside Governor Willie Obiano on the platform of APGA. But, a few weeks to the election, he jumped ship to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and assured he will frustrate the ambition of Soludo. Interestingly, Okeke could not even deliver his polling unit, not to talk of his local government area - Njikoka.
3. Stella Oduah
She is the current senator representing Anambra North Senatorial district and a former minister of aviation. Like Okeke, Oduah boosted the ranks of the APC a few weeks before the election when she dumped PDP ahead of the Anambra poll. But her promises to deliver the APC were all to no avail. Interestingly, the only local government area won by the PDP was Oduah's Ogbaru.
4. Chukwuma Umeoji
Umeoji is a member of the House of Representatives representing Aguata Federal Constituency of Anambra. He had battled Soludo for the APGA’s ticket. INEC initially listed him as APGA’s candidate. But the court ordered INEC to replace Umeoji with Soludo. Umeoji defected to the APC but failed to have any impact as Soludo won the local government where they both hail from.
5. Peter Obi
Extremely popular in the southeast state, not only as a former governor but a former vice presidential candidate of the PDP, Obi has, however, failed to translate his popularity into votes. More importantly, Obi has failed to convince Ndi Anambra to dump APGA the way he dumped the party for the PDP in October 2014.
Anambra governorship election adjudged free and fair by observers
Meanwhile, election observer group, Yiaga Africa has declared that the counting process at polling units during the Anambra governorship election was transparent and included representatives from the four political parties that received the most votes.
Executive director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo made the statement at a press briefing in Abuja attended by a Legit.ng reporter on Monday, November 8, saying:
“At 83% of polling units, the polling official posted the official polling unit results for the public to see.”
Anambra governorship election: Yiaga Africa exposes politicians
Yiaga Africa had earlier accused politicians of inducing voters with gift items and monetary gifts before the election.
The group disclosed this at a press briefing attended by a Legit.ng reporter in Awka on Friday, November 6.
Reading the summary of findings from Yiaga Africa's pre-election observation, its executive director, Samson Itodo, said some citizens were being compromised by collecting fabrics and a token of N1,500 each.
Source: Legit.ng
