Anambra State governor and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in Saturday’s guber election, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, is comfortably leading other candidates as the Independent National Electoral Commission continues uploading results of Saturday’s election in the state.
As of press time, INEC had uploaded over 99 per cent of election results onto its Results Viewing Portal, amid widespread accusations of vote-buying and other electoral infractions.
Despite the early arrival of election materials in many polling units, voter turnout was relatively low across the state, even though more voters collected their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the election.
A preliminary analysis of election results so far obtained across the polling units indicated that the APGA candidate was leading in his stronghold areas such as Aguata LGA in Anambra South Senatorial District and some parts of Anambra Central Senatorial District.
Anambra State has 21 LGAs, divided into Anambra North, Central, and South.
According to INEC, 2,802,790 registered voters were eligible to participate in the poll, including 140,370 newly registered voters across 326 wards.
The election was held in 5,718 polling units, as two of the expected 5,720 had no registered voters. Sixteen political parties fielded candidates, including two women.
Soludo won his Umuezeadigo Street Polling Unit 002 in Isuofia, Oguata LGA. He polled a total of 417 votes while his closest rival, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Nicholas Ukachukwu, got four votes.
The APC candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, equally won his polling Unit. Ukachukwu voted at Polling Unit 12, Ward 2, Umudiala village in Osumenyi, Nnewi South LGA. He got 108 votes, while APGA got four votes in booth 1, and in booth 2, APC secured 126 votes while APGA got 6 votes. But the Labour Party candidate, Dr George Moghalu, lost his polling unit. The LP candidate polled 22 votes to emerge runner up to Soludo, who won by 57 votes.
As of 10pm on Saturday, INEC had uploaded 99.14 per cent of results from the election on its IReV portal.
A review of results across several LGAs showed that APGA was leading in most polling units uploaded so far with the canddiate of the APC, Ukachukwu, trailing.
In Ekwusigo LGA, both parties dominated results in at least 17 polling units across three wards.
At Obi Nza Square Polling Unit, APGA polled 212 votes, while APC got 13. In Ezeokpo Central School I, APGA had 169 votes to APC’s 12, and in Nza Central School II, APGA scored 231 against APC’s 18. In the 17 polling units, APGA led with 1,548 votes, while APC trailed with 599.
A similar pattern was recorded in Njikoka LGA, where APGA polled 3,452 votes across three wards, while APC had 666.
In Aguata LGA, APGA dominated polling units across Umuchu II, Uga I, Ikenga, Isuofia, and Oraeri wards. The party secured 165 votes at Ozalla/Akukwa PU, 285 at Umugama Hall, and 302 at Ihuowele Hall, while APC’s votes ranged between 5 and 30 in most units.
In Ogbaru LGA (Ward 16), APGA maintained its momentum with 61 votes at Okpoko IV, 103 at Umuobom Hall II, and 144 at Umuobom Hall VIII, compared to APC’s 6, 4, and 9, respectively.
Onitsha North and South LGAs reflected a similar trend. In Onitsha South, APGA led with 1,548 votes across three wards, while APC recorded 599. In Onitsha North, APGA polled 103 votes at Inland Town IV and 157 at Inland Town V, while APC managed 13 and 27 respectively.
Oyi LGA also showed APGA leading with 190 votes at Umuokweanya Hall PU and 135 at Eke Olise Central School PU, while APC followed with 42 and 48 votes.
In Ayamelum LGA, APGA recorded 35 votes at Akojo Village Square III and 45 at F/S Village Square II, ahead of APC’s 8 and 30.
Across Orumba South LGA, APGA extended its lead, winning 547 votes in Umuchukwu Ward 09, 532 in Ogbunka II, and 707 in Nawfija Ward 08, while APC scored 87, 74, and 123 respectively.
In Anaocha LGA, Governor Soludo of APGA led with 2,419 votes, while the APC candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, polled 724 votes from the three wards uploaded as of press time.
Overall, early results from across the state indicate a clear two-horse race between APGA and APC, with APGA maintaining a wide margin.
Source – Punch
