PDP CANDIDATE CONGRATULATES SOLUDO, ALLEGES POOR CONDUCT OF THE GUBER POLL
REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 6, Anambra State governorship election, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, has congratulated Professor
Chukwuma Soludo for winning the election.
In a statement made available to Radio Nigeria, Mr. Ozigbo, said he congratulated the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Professor Soludo, on phone and wished him well while praying for his success.
Mr. Ozigbo also commended all contestants in the governorship poll.
“Let me also use this opportunity to congratulate all the men and women, who contested our dear state’s governorship this year. You all have shown a determination to see that Anambra is better. It was an honour to run this race with you,” he stated.
Mr. Ozigbo said though he might not have the opportunity in the immediate to get his dreams for the state started, his team would hold the government in power accountable to ensure that the welfare of the people is foremost in their actions at all times.
The PDP candidate, however, berated security agents for not providing a peaceful environment for campaigns to hold.
According the PDP candidate, the election was fraught with a lot of short-comings on the part of various government institutions alleging that the security agencies failed to provide a peaceful environment for campaigns to hold.
He also alleged that on election day, security personnel were absent from many polling centres, leading to elections not holding or held in situations that allowed for chaos and fraud.
Assessing the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) on the day of the election, the PDP candidate accused the Commission of using untrained and poorly trained adhoc staff, who could not operate the voting machines in many places
He also claimed that the Commission failed woefully in providing logistical support for their staff, which led to late commencement of election in many places and did not hold in some others.
The PDP standard bearer in the November 6 governorship election claimed that the use of government funds and resources to corrupt, coerce, and intimidate voters, PDP party agents, and electoral officials was a major factor in determining the outcome of the election.
He expressed regret that all the above points, including the politics of “denomination” led to the disenfranchisement of the greater percentage of voters and staining the course of democracy.
“I will be dedicating time to champion the positive change we need to ensure that future elections are truly free and fair and that the will of the electorate prevails.
“Denominational politics was also a factor. We need to do a lot more to ensure that competence is never sacrificed on this altar, and that democracy is practiced in line with its truest tenets,” he said.
Mr. Ozigbo said in all, he was more determined to work for a better future of children by remaining in active politics and rebuilding the party to be more united and more robust for those who come after.
