The ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has been declared the winner of all 21 local government areas following the council elections... The post APGA wins all 21 LGAs in Anambra council election appeared first on Tribune Online .
The ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has been declared the winner of all 21 local government areas following the council elections held across Anambra State on Saturday.
Chairman of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), Mrs Chinelo Genevieve Osakwe, made the declaration during a press conference held on Sunday at the commission’s headquarters in Awka, the state capital.
Besides, Osakwe disclosed that APGA scored a total of 50,169 votes to defeat the Young Progressives Party (YPP), which polled 1,658 votes in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.
The contest had raised a lot of dust in Anambra East over allegations of manipulation and violence.
Osakwe commended APGA and YPP for their spirit of sportsmanship during the exercise, describing the election as free, fair and credible, as well as being conducted in line with the guidelines and laws establishing the commission in the state.
Osakwe said APGA fielded candidates for various positions across the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs), while the Young Progressives Party (YPP) fielded a chairmanship candidate only in Anambra East.
According to her, APGA won in 20 LGAs through a “Yes or No” voting pattern, having produced sole candidates, while in Anambra East, APGA polled 50,169 votes to defeat YPP, which scored 1,658 votes.
Osakwe said, “I hereby declare the APGA candidates winners after polling the majority of votes for all the positions.
“I reaffirm the declaration of councillorship results already declared at the local government levels and append the commission’s approval to the outcome of the elections,” she stated.
The ANSIEC chairman congratulated the winners and urged them to serve with a high sense of responsibility.
She urged the candidates who lost the election to accept the outcome in the spirit of democratic competition.
Osakwe further commended voters, political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, ANSIEC personnel and the media for their support in the conduct of the election.
“The electoral process also provides lawful avenues for challenging any results where legitimate grounds exist,” she said.
Already, the ruling party, APGA, and some of the mayors who emerged victorious have been celebrating their victories.
They described the victory as a testament to the achievements of the state Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, which they said cut across the length and breadth of the state.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze, in his reaction, commended the peaceful conduct of the local government elections, adding that the exercise was peaceful, with few security breaches or incidents of violence.
He said the success had reinforced the security achievements of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration in protecting lives and property in the state.
Udeze, who spoke in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area, his political stronghold, expressed gratitude to residents of the council for coming out en masse to cast their votes during the election in a peaceful manner.
The Speaker, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rev. Emma Madu, said members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ogbaru had demonstrated unity and commitment to peace and progress.
Also, the new Chairman of Ayamelum Local Government Area, Chief Emmanuel Igwebuike Mgbechi, said his emergence was a victory for the people of the LGA and an opportunity to deliver greater dividends of democracy to the area.
He stated that following his victory at the polls, he would strive to do better by ensuring improved living standards for the people and promoting even development across the area.
