Anambra Governorship Election: Nwoye camp calls for cancellation of poll, accuses PDP leadership of betrayal

The outcome of last Saturday’s gubernatorial election has divided the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State.

An indication of this is the sharp disagreement over whether or not its candidate, Tony Nwoye, will participate in the November 30 supplementary election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had on November 18, declared the poll “inconclusive”.

Responding to the declaration, the National Publicity Secretary of the party and an indigene of the state, Chief Olisa Metuh, confirmed via a statement that the PDP will participate in the re-run election.

He further described the All Progressives Congress, APC, and others calling for cancellation of the poll as losers who should bury their heads in shame.

Corroborating his position, Prince Ken Emeakayi-led state executive commended the election and also declared their willingness to actively take part in the supplementary poll.

Emeakayi at a press conference at the state secretariat of the party yesterday thanked all the principal officers of the party, especially President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, Olisa Metuh, Prince Arthur Eze, election monitors, security agencies as well as citizens of the state for providing a peaceful and conducive environment for the election.

In a 3-page 10-point statement, Emeakayi noted that, “we state categorically and unequivocally that PDP will participate in the supplementary election in the contentious areas of the state as announced by INEC, and we charge our members to continue to remain calm and focused.

“We shall also continue to remember in our daily prayers, the heroes of democracy from Abia State PDP who lost their lives in the pursuit of free, fair and transparent PDP primary elections in Anambra.

“Our heart goes out also to all those who lost their dear ones in the unfortunate Uke stampede as we call on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the cause of the death of innocent Nigerians at the Uke worship ground.”

But the camp of the candidate have cried foul, insisting that the conduct was a sham.

Nwoye campaign organisation led by its Director General and former Secretary to the State Government, Prince Victor Osita Ezenwa said the best option is a fresh election that will produce credible and acceptable poll in the state.

According to him, comments credited to Metuh ans Emeakayi were and should be disregarded by all.

“We are shocked by the position of the leadership of our party. We want an outright cancellation of the November 16 governorship election in Anambra state”.

He said as a national officer, Metuh did not play a significant role in the poll, adding that “He did not even vote or participate in any way useful at all.”

“We are calling for a total cancellation of the election as it was poorly conducted, organised and supervised. This much was also acknowledged by Prof. Attahiruh Jega in a live national television,” Ezenwa noted.

They also urged Jega to probe the state resident commissioner, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukogu.