PDP candidate describes Anambra poll as monumental embarrassment

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State, Tony Nwoye, has described Saturday’s election as a “monumental embarrassment to democracy”.
Addressing a news conference in Awka on Sunday, Nwoye alleged that the poll was manipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies for a particular political party.
He accused security agents of conniving with electoral officials and agents of a particular party to harass voters and chase away members of his party at the voting and collation centres.
He said members of his party sustained injuries in Enugu-Otu, Aguleri-Out, Aguleri Ward 1, Umuorom Ward 1, Orumba North and Orumba South, Aguata and parts of Ihiala.
According to him: “The rigging was perfected so much that Mrs. Josephine Anenih, my father, my uncle and others could not vote.”
The candidate also alleged that result sheets were not available in Obosi, Nkpor, Ogidi, some parts of Aguleri, Aguata and other places.
He said: “So whatever the outcome of the election will be, it is unacceptable to us in any way and in any form because people were not allowed to exercise their franchise.
“We thought that the election will be free and fair but unfortunately, the reverse is the case.”
Nwoye said he had made complaints about the incompetence of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, to conduct the poll but was not taken seriously by the commission.
He also faulted INEC on its decision to reschedule the election in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area to a day of worship, saying that he had directed that the election be boycotted.
He added: “Going to conduct election in Obosi on a Sunday is a fluke, a ruse.
“Christians go to Church on Sunday and we have told our people not to participate.”
According to him: “The election in Obosi is just to perfect the act of announcing a winner and we wish them good luck.”
Nwoye said that while rejecting the outcome of the poll as a candidate, he would consult the party hierarchy on the next line of action.
He said the party might call for total cancellation of the election and urged the commission to reposition itself for Nigerians to have confidence in the 2015 general election.