#AnambraDecides2021: Soludo, Ozigbo Jostle For Ihiala’s 148,407 Crucial Votes

PARTIES in the INEC-ordered supplementary governorship election in Ihiala Local Government Area election are in a do-or-die race to capture maximum votes in the decisive contest.

The two leading candidates, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and Valentine Ozigbo of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) respectively are going for one another’s neck in what appears the only chance for Ozigbo to turn the table against Soludo’s sweeping record on Saturday.

Ihiala has a very large cache of registered voters, almost 150,000, which could only swing the pendulum if Ozigbo could garner as much as 80 percent of the votes in Tuesday’s supplementary voting process.

INEC had declared Saturday’s poll inconclusive because the margin between the two leading candidates, Soludo and Ozigbo, which stands at 52,624 is lower than the 148,407 votes that were canceled in Ihiala local council.

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Ozigbo, while addressing journalists in Awka on Monday, said it’s not over yet. “We can still win,” PDP’s Ozigbo said, assuring that he was resolute and committed to ‘freeing Anambra from the chains of bad governance.”
“Two years ago, when I announced my intention to run for the governorship of Anambra, my singular reason was to provide the kind of governance that my people would be proud of. Today, that reason is still evident, present, and urgent.
“With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring the results of the governorship election held on Saturday as inclusive, many are wondering what my stance is. I am in the race. My party, the PDP, is still in the race. Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 9, 2021, the election will be held in Ihiala Local Government Area. The fate of Anambra is now in their hands. I know they will choose rightly tomorrow.”

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Ozigbo said the developments in the ongoing election was a reflection of the dysfunction in Nigeria. “It was marred by widespread irregularities and violations of Nigeria’s electoral laws.”

In the same vein, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu,
Secretary to the Anambra State Government, in what he termed “Public Service Announcement For Ndi Ihiala,” urged voters to preserve Soludo’s winning trend.

“This is to inform the public, particularly residents and voters in Ihiala local government area of Anambra State that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Tuesday, 9th November, 2021 as the date for the 2021 Anambra Gubernatorial supplementary election for Ihiala local government area only.

“Anambra State government working with relevant security agencies hereby assure Ndi Ihiala that adequate security arrangements have been made to protect life and property during the election.

“All are encouraged to come out and vote for the candidate of their choice.
“As Ndi Ihiala may have observed, elections were successfully and peacefully held in the other 20 local government areas of Anambra State and INEC has duly announced the results.

“No incidence of violence or voter molestation was recorded in the Anambra gubernatorial election which held on Saturday, 6th November, 2021.
“As a reminder, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had previously cancelled the sit-at-home order earlier announced and encouraged Ndi Anambra to come out and vote.
“Anambra will continue to remain the light of the nation.”