AHEAD of the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State, the National Chairman of the United Progressive Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie has told the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct the election with an upgraded voters card reader. Anambra Political contenders This is just as Chief Osita Chidoka , the governorship candidate of the party, who also spoke with Saturday Vanguard when he was handed over his certificate of return as the party’s standard bearer in the November poll, told the Anambra electorate to use the opportunity of the election to determine what the state will be in the future.
The former Federal Road Safety Corps Marshal and Minister of Aviation in former President Goodluck Jonathan administration said that Anambra state has suffered much in the hands of politicians and political parties without ideology that would move the people forward. He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) to fulfil its promise to the people by ensuring a free and fair election. According to him, “I stand the chance to emerge as the next governor of Anambra state, if INEC decides to conduct a free and fair election. Anambra state is about to start a journey of a new beginning, with the Tiger, no more will Anambra be ruled by an ideologically backwards and bankrupt party, we have the ideology of building a state and nation where everybody will be happy.
Not an ideology of describing a group as having given them 5%, while others 90% of votes. “APGA will be sent to its final funeral, we will fight for restructuring to re – channel the Igbo anger. The election in Anambra is a referendum on the future of the people. No more will our people suffer for lack of health services, infrastructure, and good services for the people. “I will fly the flag and banner of service for a new beginning in Anambra. I am highly energized and encouraged by the people of Anambra state to fight the battle and we are sure God willing, we will conquer. Speaking at the occasion, the UPP National Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie who was the party’s presidential candidate in 2015 recommended that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), should be allowed to be part of the monitoring team to avert crisis. He said, “We have a candidate whose godfather is the Almighty God.
The people of Anambra State demanded a clean person and we have given them. There is no other candidate that can boast of solid grass root mandate than the person we are presenting to you today. “I appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to comply with the promises they made to political party leaders, tand media chiefs, who were assembled differently. The promises they made to pro-democracy and donor agencies that the Anambra elections will be conducted with an upgraded voters’ card reader that will transmit results right from the polling unit to the central server. That was what was promised to all of us. It was demonstrated before us and we applauded it because for the first time the ordinary Nigerians, in Anambra State will indeed choose who their governor will be.
“Once that is done, we are home and ready. “I say this because in 2013 in Anambra State, we saw people carrying sacks of money in naira close to polling stations and they were giving N5, 000 to vote for a particular political party. “And when the attention of the police was drawn to the development, the police who were obviously been compromised said that they were invited to maintain law and order and not to chase people who were carrying money around. If EFCC is part of this election the past experience will not repeat itself.” Chidoka was presented with INEC’s form CF 001 and the nomination form from INEC which is form 4B 1.
Source: Vanguard
