All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, has pledged its commitment and loyalty towards President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and assured him of the party’s support should he indicate interest to contest the 2015 presidential election.
This was contained in separate reactions yesterday by APGA national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh and Governor Peter Obi to the emergence of APGA’s candidate, Dr. Willie Obiano, as the governor–elect for Anambra State by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
While Umeh said, “If it was not Jonathan, we could have had problems now.” Obi added that Jonathan “is our presidential candidate and we will continue to give him support.”
According to reports, Umeh said “The victory did not come as a surprise, it came as a result of the superlative performances of President Jonathan and Governor Peter Obi, respectively”, he explained.
He assured the president of his party’s continued support to the federal government, and commended INEC for “doing an excellent job”.
The APGA National Chairman, however, urged opponents in the contest to give peace a chance and consider the interest of the state before their personal interests.
“I congratulate them for contesting; some of them worked hard but the people of the state have spoken.”
“This is the time to show that they have the interest of the state at heart by congratulating the winner,” Mr. Umeh said.
“We dedicate this victory to the evergreen memory of our great leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, whose dream and legacy have been sustained. “The light that shines when he was alive is now shinning gloriously.”
Also speaking, Gov. Obi expressed gratitude to President Jonathan for remaining committed to democracy, fair play, free and credible election in the state.
“For us in APGA, we have every reason to show appreciation to President Jonathan because this is the second time after 2010 that he is ensuring credible polls.
“He is our presidential candidate and we will continue to give him support,” Mr. Obi said.
Anambra Governor-elect, Willie Obiano, on his part ascribed his victory in the elections to the hard work of Gov. Peter Obi and his party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.
Obiano said the commitment of the outgoing governor in bringing about development in the state assisted in ensuring his victory. The governor elect said this while reacting to his victory, which was announced by the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, in Awka yesterday.
He said that Mr. Obi’s “good work actually led us to victory and I must commend him for his exemplary show of support”.
The governor-elect also commended the people of the state, the chairman of the party, Victor Umeh, other party stalwarts and the security agencies for their commitment to their duties during the conduct of the election.
He also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for ensuring ‘credible polls’ in the state and assured him of his unflinching support.
“I am assuring the people of Anambra that I will continue with the great strides of Obi in moving the state forward,” Obiano pledged.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday in Awka declared Willie Obiano the winner of the contest after polling 180,178 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Tony Nwoye, had 97,700 votes to emerge second.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Chris Ngige, with 95,963 votes, placed third while Ifeanyi Ubah of Labour Party scored 37,495 votes.
The declaration of Mr. Obiano as winner of the polls followed the completion of the supplementary election in the state on Saturday in areas where election did not hold on November 16.
The APC, Labour Party, and the candidate of the PDP, boycotted the supplementary election and demanded a total cancellation of the November 16 election, citing disenfranchisement of voters and late delivery of electoral materials, among others. However, the PDP headquarters, said the November 16 election was free and fair.