Onitsha — The Anambra governorship election has come and gone. A winner has emerged. He is the incumbent, Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Governor Obi has obtained his second mandate in seven years, pulling an aggregate of 97, 843 votes and 25 percent or more in 13 local governments, to beat his closest rival, Chris Ngige of Action Congress (AC) who polled 60, 240 votes.

Two other strong contenders, Chukwuma Soludo of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party governorship flag-bearer, Andy Uba, polled 59,355 and 26,106 votes, respectively. Nicholas Ukachukwu of Hope Democratic Party (HDP) came fifth, polling 20, 777 votes. The Progressives Peoples Party (PPA) governorship candidate,Uche Ekwunife who some had hoped would win the election because of her dogged grassroots-based electioneering polled a dismal 9,595 votes.

APGA has proved to the world that Anambra is its stronghold and that Odumegwu Ojukwu is the greatest political figure in the state, however the innuendos on outcome of voting in metropolitan Nnewi.

Initial Fears

The 2007 governorship election in Anambra State in which Uba emerged as winner with 1.06 million votes held out fear the people of Anambra State as similar election approached in 2010. Before that election, INEC had performed some abracadabra with the voters register, the price for which voters paid till last poll. In reality, the voting population of the state was barely 500,000. But Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) jacked up that figure to over 1.8 million. That gave room to manipulation of actual figures in any election conducted by INEC, subsequently.

Even before then, the antecedents of the INEC in Anambra State had not been too edifying. For instance in 2003, a similar election was conducted in which the people of Anambra State voted massively for Obi. It was supposed to be a landslide victory for the APGA candidate. But the wishes of the people were subverted. Rather than declare Obi winner, INEC declared Ngige, who was at the time the candidate of the PDP. The supposed winner, Obi went through a tortuous three and half years of litigation to reclaim his mandate.

In the National Assembly elections of 2003, APGA's candidates also suffered the same fate. The results of all the 14 candidates of the National Assembly election comprising three would-be senators and 11 would-be members of the House of Representatives were fraudulently manipulated. In that election, rather than declare contestants winners or losers, INEC declared parties as winners of the election. Again, the leadership of PDP was at work. After the election, people who never contested the party primaries nor were elected to represent the party were imposed, to shove aside the real winners in the election.

This scenario thus prepared the ground for doubts about INEC's sincerity to conduct a credible election, which result will be based on voting patterns. There is no doubt that as Anambra people approached the 2010 governorship election, there was apprehension of manipulation and fraud in the landscape. This informed widespread rumour a week before the election that fraudsters had in a town near Awka thumb-printed large quantities of ballot papers ready to be returned to INEC for acceptance, by one of the candidates.

All assurances by INEC Chairman, Maurice Iwu, could not assuage the feeling of rape by the people. Iwu spend a large a amount of his time speaking on how dear Anambra State governorship election was to him and the extra care being adopted to ensure that the election was a success. He summoned candidates in the election to Abuja, where he held a meeting with them, and also held two meetings with them in Awka virtually repeating himself on the same issue. But because there was already a mistrust, none of the candidates took him seriously, the arrival of a new Resident Electoral Commissioner, Josiah Uwazuronye, and the sacking of 10 INEC staff for muddling the voters register, notwithstanding.

Eventual Outcome

At close of the poll, the governorship election appeared the freest and fairest ever conducted in Anambra state. The election was peaceful and voters were allowed to vote without molestation. Indeed, the outcome tallied with the prediction of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who told Daily Independent that some people will be disappointed with the outcome of the election.

"Many people will be disappointed because they think that Anambra is going to be a theatre of war. This will not happen because I have been briefed about the security on ground. I find from the governor the level of preparedness and so we hope for a good and credible election. With today's election, Nigeria is going to make a statement on the ongoing transformation that is taking place in INEC itself and in our own conduct", Ekweremadu said.

He also spoke on the large number of security personnel deployed for the election saying that "people should not be scared because the essence of the large presence of security agents is to ensure that everybody is protected; that the sanctity of ballot system is also protected. This will enable genuine voters to come out and exercise their franchise". That eventually happened because on the morning of Sunday, February 6, the REC announced the complete result of the election with Obi emerging victorious.

The outcome of the election has also attracted comments from respected members of the society. The Anambra Election Monitoring and Observation Board observed this. The major flaw in the election which was noticeable to everyone as the badly prepared voters' register which omitted several names so that on February 6, when the election was conducted many voters were disfranchised. The board also observed that though electoral materials were moved to their voting locations two days before the election and were promptly distributed, the genuineness of the voters register was in doubt.

In a press conference after the election leader of the group, Ikeazor Akariwe made some recommendations which included a holistic review of the voters register INEC having its own transportation facility and more powers to Resident Electoral Commissioners to deal with some complaints in the spot, among other things.

Generally, however, Obi's re-election has been described as successful in the sense that those who were able to vote had their votes counted and recorded for them.

An Epoch

Former Ekiti State governor, who is now with Uba's Labour Party, Fayose took the first shot in describing the Anambra Election in sublime terms as the best conducted by the INEC in recent times. The former Ekiti State governor described it as an improvement on past elections in Nigeria, saying it gives hope to all Nigerians that in the 2011 election the people's vote will count.

The Patriotic Alliance of Nigeria (PAN), a coalition of over 15 political parties that worked with APGA has congratulated Obi for his re-election as the number-one citizen of Anambra State and called on the INEC to improve on their election logistics.

Coordinator of the group, Maxi Okwu said the declaration of Obi as winner of the February 6, 2010 governorship poll by Josiah Uwazuonye, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state was a sweet music to the ears of all genuine lovers of democracy.

His words: "We heartily congratulate Mr. Peter Obi, and extend same to his party APGA a leading member of PAN. We also celebrate with the Leader of APGA, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the indefatigable National Chairman and leader of PAN, Chief (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 reconfirmed 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."

Similarly, two PDP chieftains, Dora Akunyili and Alex Obiogbolu have congratulated the people of Anambra State for coming out in large numbers to participate in the election was clear vote of confidence on Nigeria's democracy. Akunyili is the Minister of Information and Communication, while Obiogbolu was and one of the 47 aspirants that sought the PDP governorship ticket. Their made their comments in separate press statements on Tuesday.

Akunyili said that it is a clear demonstration of "Anambra spirit" of resilience, commitment and result-oriented approach to all challenges helped greatly to lay to rest, fears and concerns about the election. The success of the election was not only victory for Anambra people, but a triumph of democracy, she said.

Just as Obiogbolu congratulated Obi for his victory but added that it is pertinent for him to point out that it is a collective victory for Ndi Anambra and for Nigerians, as the country edged further towards a true democracy where votes can count.

"I equally want to congratulate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its effort. Although there were noticeable lapses observed in the polling centres that I personally visited in various parts of the state, it was encouraging that INEC was committed to improving on its past records. It is hoped that all the lapses and public complaints will be adequately addressed for future elections," said Akunyili.

In the last 72 hours, Obi has been enjoying general approbation of the political elites across the country. The PDP has formally congratulated. He has been congratulated by the high and mighty in the land including Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President David Mark, the PDP National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Sylvester Nnebe. Variously political groups including the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), the Afenifere and even foreign bodies that monitored the election.

National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Umeh, while reacting to the result of the election at INEC premises said that INEC did well not just because his party won in the election, but because in that election, people were allowed to vote.

Umeh explained that Anambra has passed through a traumatic experience in the past election and last Saturday did not record incident of writing results in their private homes and those results finding their way to the INEC headquarters for declaration. If INEC keeps it this way, we will get out of the woods. I thank INEC for having this disposition at this time to allow the people of Anambra State to elect a governor of their choice".

The APGA leader blamed the hiccups experienced during the election on the continuous voter registration exercise but insisted that it affected every one. The votes polled by candidates, he insisted showed their areas of strengths and weaknesses and that even if the election is repeated with more people casting their ballot, Obi will even win more votes to top the list. He said she knew that Obi would win in the first ballot, contrary to what some people think. This is, according to him, because the governor has performed very well in office.

Former Minister of Health, Tim Menakaya said the result was wonderful and he expected Obi to win, because he has performed wonderfully well. Menakaya said the election was free, fair and smooth. There was isolated cases of snatching of ballot boxes but it was not rampant, he said. According to him, INEC did its best, though it did not do its home work well when it came to the voters register.

From far away Obibi Oshasi in Imo State, the traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty Eze Jude Mbamara said he is overwhelmed by the wisdom, courage and reasonable choice the mandate by Anambrarians in voting Obi to power again. Igwe Mbamara urged other states in the South East to emulate the example of Anambra people in voting individuals based on their solid achievements.

Chairman of Anambra Leaders of Thought in Onitsha South council area, Robert Ozigbo congratulated INEC, Governor Peter Obi and the law enforcement agencies at the same time. Ozigbo said last Saturday's election showed that INEC will change.

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) Anambra Chapter also said the victory of Governor Obi is a victory for democracy in Nigeria and the ultimate winners are the Anambra people who braved all odds to exercise their franchise despite problems encountered in the exercise. In a statement issued by the chairman of the organisation, Alloy Attah, said the number of voters has also vindicated its stand that Anambra does not have more than 600,000 authentic voters, saying Saturday's exercise was a pleasant surprise. CLO gave kudos to Uwazuronye "for harkening to the voice of reason this time"

Until February 6, INEC was held with suspicion by the people. During the voting exercise, the problems of voters register which was the outcome of the stratagem of the 2007 election reared its ugly head up. Thousands of voters who trooped to the polling stations determined to cast their votes could not find their names in the voters register.

On The Skeptic Side

The victory of APGA and Obi in Saturday's governorship election not withstanding, the poll has its own shortcomings. These defects are as encapsulated in Obiogbolu's observations.

Obiogbolu criticised the INEC of mauling the voters' register and disenfranchising hundred of thousands of voters. He conceded however that the election witnessed peaceful conduct and mental and matured engagement by the candidates and their supporters.

"The race was good, the people were aroused, hundreds of thousands came out to exercise their franchise to vote, few cast their ballot and a winner was declared, is a summary of the 2010 gubernatorial election in Anambra State," he admitted.

The defects are also subsumed by second-placed Ngige's protest about the conduct and result of the election.

"Obi utilised his Government House security to carry out the arrest of political opponents. In my case, two party stalwarts critical of the election Chinemelu of the World Bank and Chairman of Onitsha South Election Committee (Kanmelu) were arrested and detained at the Onitsha police station all through the election.

"Our party agents were also targeted and removed in a Toyota Coaster bus with an ANGH plate number. The election in Onitsha North was run without anybody protecting our interest and in that regard, APGA had a field day, thumb-printing and stuffing ballot boxes. There were also reported cases of ballot box snatching at Fegge and return of some already stuffed with ballot papers," said Ngige.

The former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, for instance could not find his name in his ward and was only allowed to vote on personal recognisance. Obi was the only member of his family member whose name was in the register in his ward. And in Uga, where Uba voted, results sheets were lacking.

In Alor, Ngige was able to vote having raised alarm earlier on the omission of his name in the register, which was corrected. The conduct of election beat the expectation of everyone, nonetheless. The fear that election results might be written somewhere and transplanted into INEC records fizzled when votes were counted at every polling station in full view of the electorate, and winner declared on the spot.

Winners All

The shortcomings of the poll, notwithstanding, all are winners as some of Obi's other close rivals like Soludo, Uba, Michael Ejezie of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Nwosu have either congratulated him or made him a visit of solidarity.

Next Challenge

Obi has remained as enigmatic as he was while launching into Anambra politics. It is doubtful if Obi ever paid attention to politics before he got the call. As a wealthy business man, Obi may not have felt too concerned about that. But his was changed by two unrelated incidents that took place in the United States of America and Onitsha Nigeria. Obi told a gathering in the Governor's Lodge last year that he was taking a course in Kellogg Business School when he had audience with one of his lecturers and got a shocker of his life.

After sizing him up, his lecturer concluded that at Obi's age and wealth, even if he stops making more money, he will be comfortable for the rest of his life. In his view, Obi should return to his country and help to build it. The second experience was in Onitsha in the days of Chinwoke Mbadinuju when unorthodox method of crime fighting was introduced by the then state government. A group of young men called Bakassi Boys which claimed they detect criminals by merely flashing their machete, and it showed red. To Obi, that was not acceptable in modern society and he felt that to stop that he must be within the system.

So, Anambra people still remembered one morning in 2003 when they woke up and beheld giant billboards in their major cities. The billboards are not the issue. The issue was the message on those billboards that came in the form of a question: Is Anambra cursed or are we the cause? Nobody claimed responsibility for erecting those sign boards. But Obi would explain later that the poser on those billboards was informed by the happenings of the time part of which has to do with Anambra State Vigilante Service and general break down of infrastructure in the state.

Obi launched his political career in 2003, when he contested the governorship election and overwhelmed his opponents when he received the highest votes cast in that election. The candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in that election, Ngige was returned, instead.

So, Obi launched a protracted legal battle that took three years before Ngige was removed by the First Anambra Election Petition Tribunal presided over by Justice Garba Nabaruma, the first of such cases to be won by a candidate other than those of PDP. Ngige appealed against the judgment and on March 15, 2006, the Appeal Court sitting in Enugu upheld the tribunal judgment, thereby clearing the way for Obi to be sworn in on March 17, 2006 as Governor of Anambra State.

The jubilation was short-lived, however. Shortly afterwards, it became obvious that some powers that be did not find Obi's victory funny, and the plot for his removal began. Frivolous allegations were leveled against him and eight months into his tenure he was impeached. His deputy, Virgy Etiaba was sworn as the first female Governor in Nigeria, constitutionally speaking. It would look like there was a plan not to let Obi return to office. However, he went back to court and three months later regained his seat.

Obi's tenure has been a very difficult one, as he once confessed.

"People say that I have spent four years. But they forgot that I have spent the most difficult four years of any governor in history in this country. I am the only governor whose House of Assembly is made up of 100 percent opposition. I was impeached in the first six months. That means that in the first six months, I was not in charge as people made it impossible for me to function. I came back and met a hostile House for another one year. It is only this year that I am beginning to settle down."

Obi indeed paid for the 100 per cent PDP membership of the House Assembly. In 2008, for instance, the House of Assembly refused to pass the state budget on the grounds that it was inflated. It took the intervention of everybody that matters in Anambra State before that budget was passed with all the noise and tension it created in the state.

His greatest challenge would be to ensure that his party has fair representation in the State Assembly come the 2011 general elections.