Anthony Iwuoma
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Anambra governorship election inconclusive.
According to the state’s Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Florence Obi, the Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar, the decision was informed by the fact that there was no election in Ihiala Local Government Area, with over 148,000 registered voters.
The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Charles Soludo, scored a total of 103,946 votes and won the election in 18 out of the 21 local government areas of the state while the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Valentine Ozigbo, is trailing him in second position with 51,322 and won in only one local government area.
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Consequently, the Returning Officer said: “Based on constitutional provision and consideration of the Electoral Act as well as the revised regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections issued by the commission, supplementary election is indicated for Ihiala Local Government Area.
“Therefore, it is important to complete the election in Ihiala to make this determination.”
According to her, the constitutional provision expects the winner to secure not only the highest number of votes cast but also 25 per cent of ballots in, at least, two-thirds of the local government areas of the state.