Abuja — The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday attributed the resounding defeat of its candidate Professor Chukwuma Soludo in Saturday's gubernatorial election in Anambra State to lack of unity among party members in the state.

Reacting to the election results won by incumbent Governor Peter Obi of APGA, in which Soludo came third, PDP's National Publicity Secretary, Prof. , said the outcome of the poll was an eye-opener for the party members on the need to work together as a team.

Alkali, who hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said the party would further study the situation particularly the cases of disenfranchisement before coming out with a more elaborate position.

He said, "It is very, very unfortunate that our party lost in Anambra State, a PDP state. Our people in Anambra State refused to put their house in order to support the party's candidate, Professor Chukwuma Soludo. As a party, we did everything possible to ensure that we had a peaceful and fair election. All the efforts, time and energy have been wasted. Though many people were disenfranchised, we will study the entire process and come up with our position.

"What happened in Anambra is an eye opener to all PDP members that it is time to unite. Soludo and our members in the state should be calm and strategize for the challenges ahead."

Even though last Saturday's Anambra governorship election was largely peaceful, our correspondents report that there pockets of violence and collation irregularities prior to the announcement of Obi as the winner. There was a mild drama early yesterday morning at the Anambra State Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akwa, where the governorship election was being announced, when it was discovered that the electoral officer had inflated the votes ascribed to the Action Congress by 10,000 votes.

The Electoral Officer, Dr. Ego Antonia Egbunam, mistakenly recorded 19,043 instead of 9,043. When the party agent of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) raised objection to the votes, the officer admitted the error and accepted and took responsibility for it.

But the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barrister Josiah Uwazuruonye, said even though the electoral officer admitted the mistake, he (REC) was handicapped to effect any change due to the stipulation of Section 69c of the Electoral Act. He asked the APGA agent to bring a petition to INEC and present it at the Tribunal.

Section 69 C of the Electoral Act says: "The decision of the Returning Officer on any question arising from or relating to (a)- unmarked ballot paper (b) rejected ballot paper and (c) declaration of scores of candidates and the return of a candidate, shall be final subject to review by a Tribunal or court in an election petition proceedings under this Act."

Other irregularities that were pointed out by various electoral officers and party agents alike include late arrival of election materials and interpolations of voters' lists across many wards.

At the end of the collation, the REC declared Governor Obi of APGA winner with 97,843 votes (winning 13 of the 21 local governments). Dr Chris Ngige of AC won five local governments with 60,240 votes, while Prof Chukwuma Soludo of PDP won two LGs with 59,355 votes. Nicholas Ukachukwu of HDP won one LG and 20,777 votes. Dr. Andy Uba of Labour Party and Uche Ekwunifew of the PPA did not win any LGs.

Shortly after the results were announced, Vice President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan sent warm congratulations to Governor Peter Obi over his victory in the election.

In a statement signed by Ima Niboro, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Jonathan lauded the Anambra people for the generally peaceful conduct of the election, saying this is an indication that Nigerians are determined to make democracy succeed. Jonathan acknowledged the roles played by INEC as well as the Nigeria Police and other security agencies towards the successful conduct of the polls. According to him, this was an indication that the electoral reforms of the present administration were beginning have an effect on the nation's political culture.

Governors of the 36 states of the federation under the auspices of Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) also congratulated Governor Peter Obi yesterday for his re-election victory. NGF's Director General Asishana Okauru, who spoke on their behalf, said Obi's victory was a re-affirmation of people's faith in his government.

Okauru reminded Governor Obi that the new mandate given to him was an opportunity to build on and possibly complete all the excellent projects started in the past years. He however urged all those who ran with Governor Obi in the just concluded elections to join hands with him in building a strong Anambra State bearing in mind that the art of governance is a collective effort.