By James Orji
Andy Uba, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the November 6 Anambra governorship election has recorded a boost in his quest to succeed Governor Wily Obiano. The plus to his campaign to become the state’s helmsman, came from Hallmark International Consultancy Company, a research and political risk consultancy firm based in the United States of America, USA which said Senator Uba will win the election.
The APC has received major boosts to its campaign to wrestle the state from ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, particularly with the recent decampment of notable APGA politicians including the Deputy Governor, of the state Nkem Okeke and some lawmakers in the state house of Assembly to the APC
Apart from Senator Uba, the election parades notable candidates vying in the make or mar election, popular among them are Godwin Maduka of Accord, Charles Soludo of All Progressive Grand Alliance, Valentine Ozigbo of PDP and Obiora Okonkwo of Zenith Labour Party.
A statement issued by the HICC vice president for Africa and Middle East, Hayes Rodney, which was made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, said the interest of the foundation in the Anambra governorship election is non-partisan but designed to help deepen democracy in Nigeria.
Rodney said that Nigeria’s democracy has come of age and therefore needs to continually evolve strategies to strengthen it as it bends the curve, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to ensure the election is free, fair, and credible.
He emphasized the need for INEC to use the electronic means of transmitting the result of the election to ensure transparency.
“One way to restore the people’s interest and trust in the ballot box will be for the umpire to be transparent by also embracing technology in conducting elections and for the security agencies to also ensure lives and properties of the electorates are protected,” he said.
He further explained that the firm has no partisan interest in the outcome of the statewide survey, adding that the election would be left for the people of the state to decide.
He noted that while 18 political parties are registered to participate in the election the organisation only polled six major candidates of six political parties; Accord represented by Dr Godwin Maduka, Prof Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Valentine Ozigbo of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Obiora Okonkwo of the Zenith Labor Party, ZLP and Senator Emmanuel Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress, APC
Meanwhile, the Andy Uba Campaign Organisation has condemned what it called calumny attacks on its candidate, in the race by APGA.
A statement by the media director of the organisation, Afam Ogene, read in part,”This time, using a poorly scripted propaganda material, they claimed that a certain nondescript character, allegedly, ‘confessed’ that Distinguished Senator Andy Uba contracted him to cause mayhem in the state.
“The General Public is advised to ignore this concocted tale which could only have emanated from the jaundiced imagination of crude propagandists.
“Senator Uba, despite having devoted the greater part of his adult life to the service of Ndi Anambra and Nigeria, is a widely acclaimed perfect gentleman who not only detests violence, but has also never being associated with anything of the sort.
“A cursory look at the concocted tale shows that the story has no source and can’t be referenced to anyone. The parrot news attached at the end of the said article does not also exist, either in print or the internet.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Uba and his APC have been insistent on having the Anambra governorship election hold this Saturday, November 6, 2021.
“In deed, ndi Anambra and Nigerians at large are aware of those who appear not to be ready for the gubernatorial duel, and are therefore conjuring all manner of excuses, including playing games with security issues, so as to force a stalemate.
“With the Independent National Electoral Commission and other political parties, including the APC and security agencies ready for the polls, we advise Governor Obiano, Prof Soludo and APGA to get up and get ready for November 6, 2021 – and quit playing silly games,” Ogene said.
