Daily Independent (Lagos)
Maxwell Oditta and Michael Jegede
7 February 2010
Lagos — Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has described the conduct of Saturday's governorship election in Anambra State as the best ever conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in recent times.
Fayose, who recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the Labour Party, told Daily Independent on phone on Sunday that the election gives hope to all Nigerians that in the 2011 election the people's vote would count.
"Losers should embrace the winner, and the winner should be magnanimous to accommodate all in the spirit of the struggle to deliver Nigeria and Nigerians," Fayose said.
Also, the Patriotic Alliance of Nigeria (PAN), a coalition of over 15 political parties that worked with the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), has congratulated Obi for his re-election as the number-one citizen of Anambra State and called on INEC to improve on its election logistics.
Coordinator of the group, Maxi Okwu, said the declaration of Obi as winner of the February 6 governorship poll by Josiah Uwazuonye, INEC's Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, is a sweet music to the ears of all genuine lovers of democracy.
His words: "We heartily congratulate Obi, and extend same to his party, the APGA, a leading member of PAN. We also celebrate with the Leader of APGA, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the indefatigable National Chairman and leader of PAN, Sir Victor Umeh.
"Our greatest tribute, however, goes to the people of Anambra State, who in defiance of anti-democratic elements have elected their own governor. They have now re-confirmed their membership of that small league of progressives' states like Kano, Lagos, and through the tribunals, Ondo and Edo states, that enjoy this basic democratic right."
Okwu, national chairman of Citizens Peoples Party, however, added that "the election management left a lot to be desired e.g. a largely distorted voters' register, late arrival of election materials, and a few skirmishes here and there.
"We call on INEC to learn from this shortcoming and radically improve on its logistics in future. This notwithstanding, we are of the view that the election passed the acid test for a credible election. That is, that the result reflects the opinion or choice of the electorate. Governor Obi has won fair and square.
"We urge his co-contestants to exhibit sportsmanship by conceding victory to Obi, and extending a right hand of comradeship and support to him. Let us as politicians move our democratic engagement to a higher level."
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