Politics
Anambra 2021; News and Shocking Stories Surrounding the 2021 Election in Anambra State.
Anambra 2021 presents another Election Year in Anambra State. The governorship Election in Anambra State is slated for Nov 6th, 2021 and Earthsound Media has been following reports of happenings in the state.
This report gives you a overview of all major events that happened before, during and after the Governorship elections in Anambra State.
Table of Contents
Anamabra 2021; Brief Background
The Anambra 2021 gubernatorial election will be held on November 6, 2021, to elect the Governor of Anambra State.
Willie Obiano, the current APGA Governor, is already serving his second term and cannot run for re-election for a third straight term. The primaries were supposed to take place between June 10 and July 1, but weeks of litigation and conflicting court judgments on primary results prompted the Independent National Electoral Commission to request assistance from the Nigerian Bar Association in August 2021.
The APC nominated former Anambra South Senator Andy Uba in a direct primary, while the YPP nominated Anambra South Senator Ifeanyi Ubah; the other two major Anambra parties (APGA and PDP) held various parallel primaries with later ligation to determine the real nominee. Due to court rulings, INEC first nominated former Central Bank Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo as APGA nominee in August and former Transcorp CEO Valentine Ozigbo as PDP nominee in September, but additional ligation is underway.
However, on the 14th of October 2021, the supreme Court affirmed Victor Oye as APGA Chairman thereby affirming Charles Chukwuma Soludo as the APGA candidate for the election. Delivering judgment in the appeal, the apex court in a unanimous judgment held that the internal issue of political parties’ was outside the jurisdiction of courts.
with that, the
| PARTY | CANDIDATE | RUNNING MATE |
|---|---|---|
| Accord (A) | Godwin Maduka | Obi Kenneth Ifeatu |
| Action Alliance (AA) | Ben Etiaba | Regina Uchebo |
| African Action Congress(AAC) | Chidozie Nwankwo | Chinwe Nwaebili |
| African Democratic Congress (ADC) | Akachukwu Sullivan Nwankpo | Lawrence Ughamadu |
| Action Democratic Party (ADP) | Afam Ume-Ezeoke | Maxwell Chukwujama |
| All Progressive Congress (APC) | Andy Uba | Emeka Okafor |
| All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) | Charles Soludo | Onyekachukwu Ibezim |
| Allied Peoples Movement (APM) | Geoffrey Onyejegbu | Onuora Chinwe Letitia |
| Action Peoples Party (APP) | Azubuike Echetebu | Ogbonna Jonathan |
| Boot Party (BP) | Chika Jerry Okeke | Chika Juliet Adibe |
| Labour Party (LP) | Obiora Agbasimalo | Muokwue Chinedu Peter |
| New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNP) | Leonard Emeka Ohajimkpo | Nwude Henrietta Ebelechuwu |
| National Rescue Movement (NRM) | Ezenwaofor Afamefuna Victor | Ojukwu Nzube Chukwuma |
| People’s Democratic Party (PDP) | Valentine Ozigbo | Lilian Enemo |
| People’s Redemption Party (PRP) | Nnamdi Nwawuo | Igbo Godwin Gozie |
| Social Democratic Party(SDP) | Uzo Obinna Godwin | Chira Obiora |
| Young Progressive Party | Ifeanyi Ubah | Okechukwu Eze |
| Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) | Obiora Okonkwo | Jessie Balonwu |
Anamabra 2021; Day by day Happenings Before the Elections.
The days leading to the general elections have been filled with a good level of violence. It started after gunmen burned down the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission on May 24, 2021, amid an increase in attacks on INEC offices across the country.
INEC Chairman and National Commissioner in charge of Publicity and Voter Education Festus Okoye disclosed in August 2021 that the May attack destroyed half of the non-sensitive materials pre-delivered for the election’s administrative chores.
As the election approached, INEC began to announce its plans, with Festus Okoye indicating in September 2021 that he planned to deploy at least 25,000 INEC personnel on election day.
See also Anambra Polls: We will Still Win Despite INEC Exclusion of our Candidate – PDP
As further preparations were announced, the planned storage of non-sensitive materials in the INEC zonal office in Owerri, Imo State caused controversy.
The PDP, YPP, and APGA questioned the decision to store materials in a state governed by an APC governor, but INEC maintained that the materials could not be stored in Anambra due to the May attack on the INEC state headquarters.
Other INEC plans were less contentious, such as the adoption of the new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) gadget after it was successfully tested during the Isoko South I Delta State Constituency by-election two months before the Anambra poll.
Anamabra 2021; INEC Adhoc staff Resign in Numbers. (26-10-2021).
Some ad hoc workers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have refused to work less than two weeks to the governorship election in Anambra State on November 6.
Bus drivers, who are generally utilized to transport materials to other locations, have also declined to participate in the exercise.
The threat from outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, was said to be the reason.
See also; Anambra 2021; Tension as IPOB Declares Sit-at-home on Election Day
According to a report on the Nation Newspaper, a senior staff member of the commission confirmed it. The source said: “That is our situation now. Nothing seems to be working for us in this election because no one wants to lose his or her life because of IPOB.
“It is a big challenge facing us. Many of the ad hoc workers already recruited are throwing in the towel because of the IPOB threats; even the drivers, who we always use to distribute the materials.”
“All of them contacted, told us they are not interested. So, our hands are tied. These people called IPOB have really dealt with the people of the Southeast.
Lol“If nothing is done urgently, the election we’ve been preparing for, for so long a time may not hold; even if it holds, who is prepared to risk his or her life to come out?”
It was discovered that the drivers and the majority of the ad hoc workers who had already been hired indicated they were no longer interested in the job because they were afraid for their lives.
See also Anambra 2021; IGP Tasks Unit Commanders to be Ruthless.
INEC declared in May and early June that the number of polling units in Anambra State had been increased from 4,608 to 5,720.
Furthermore, the commission stated that the election will require approximately 10,000 ad hoc employees to be successful.
Anambra Polls; NSA Warns Separatist Organisation.
On the 10th of September 2021, THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd. ), warned all separatist organizations against disrupting the governorship election in Anambra State on November 6.
Munguno, who was represented by a representative from his office, Sanusi Galadima, gave the warning on Thursday during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in Abuja.
Suspected arsonists set fire to government buildings, including the Anambra State INEC headquarters.
Although security agencies accused members of IPOB of alleged complicity, the group denied the allegation.Galadima said, “With the prevalence of security threats occasioned by different dissident separatist groups in the Southern region of the country, who are bent on scuttling efforts of government in achieving national cohesion and undermining the democratic processes in the country, the Federal Government of Nigeria will not tolerate any group or persons planning to impede smooth conduct of elections.”
Anambra poll: PDP warns INEC against Storing Materials in Imo.
On the 12th of September, the PDP asked the Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday not to retain Anambra governorship election materials in Imo State.
This is said in a statement issued by the PDP’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, and captioned “Anambra Guber: PDP calls out INEC over suspected diversion of electoral materials to Gov. Uzodinma.
“According to media reports, the INEC planned to store some of its non-sensitive materials for the Anambra governorship poll in its Imo facility.
See also Anambra Polls; NSA Warns Separatist Organisation
The PDP statement read in part, “Our party firmly rejects the reported move by INEC to use its facility in Owerri, Imo State capital, for the storage of electoral materials for the Anambra governorship election, rather than in Anambra State.
“The PDP holds this stance given the well-known electoral character of Governor Hope Uzodinma and the APC.
“Our party insists that any attempt to hand over the materials to Governor Uzodinma by storing them in Imo state amounts to rigging the election before its conduct.“Such could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the zone and scuttle the November 6 election.
Anambra Poll; Gunmen Attack Police Check Point in Anambra.
On the 13th of September, Earthsound Reporta Narrated how Roughly six gunmen shot and killed a police officer, a tricycle operator, and a bystander near Ukaegbu/Oraifite Street, Awada in Anambra State’s Idemili North Local Government Area.
According to reports, the occurrence sent people of Awada into a frenzy as they fled for safety, while some brave souls congregated in clusters to discuss the incident.
According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen arrived at the police checkpoint in a white Sienna vehicle, caught the officers off guard, and immediately aimed at and killed their victims, while stray bullets hit and killed a tricycle operator and a young man who was probably on his way to a nearby church for Sunday worship.
Many residents in the vicinity were compelled to stay indoors due to the incident.Soldiers and other security personnel had been dispatched to the location as of yesterday’s publication time. They erected barricades, closing off the entire route leading to the incident.
Residents and cars in the region found it difficult to obtain access to their homes due to a road block erected by troops, which made entry and leave difficult.
Residents expressed concern that the murdering of security officers has increased in the South-East over the last seven months, with no end in sight.
They were also disappointed that the governors of the South-East did not appear to be doing much to stop or lessen the senseless killings.
When contacted, Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the attack but claimed he had no further information at the time of publication.
Anambra 2021; Gunmen Kill Akunyili in Anambra.
On the 28 of September, Dr. Chike Akunyili, widower of the late Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Dora Akunyili, was shot and killed by gunmen in Nkpor, Anambra State’s Idemili North Local Government Area.
According to unconfirmed accounts, seven other people were killed in the incident.
See also Sit-At-Home; Gunmen Kill 4,Burn Houses in Imo.
Dr. Akunyili was said to be returning from Onitsha, where he had gone to acquire a posthumous award of excellence for his late wife, when he was shot and killed by hoodlums at Nkpor.
The hoodlums were reportedly yelling, “No election in Anambra in November.”
Anambra 2021; IPOB Denies Killing Akunyili.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, reacted to reports linking the death of Chike Akunyili to its members.
IPOB said they didn’t kill Mr. Akunyili. They alleged that the death of Chike was a pure political assassination, stressing that those behind the incident are contesting for the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
Chike, who is the husband of the former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, was killed on Tuesday on his way from Onitsha to Umuoji at Eke Nkpor. Following the incident, IPOB members were accused of killing Chike.
However, Emma Powerful, spokesman of IPOB, said those who poisoned the late Dora are responsible for Chike’s death.
A statement by Powerful reads partly: “Those who killed Dora Akunyili’s husband killed his wife with poison are Fulani because she exposed Yar’adua’s death for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to take over as President of failed Nigeria. They know themselves, Those that conspired to poisoned prof. Dora Akunyili, they’re contesting the governorship election in Anambra State today.
“We have no issues with Chike Akunyili and we don’t know him, those behind this act must stop this and stop using IPOB name, we don’t want anybody to blame IPOB because we must get them, this is pure political assassination going on in Anambra State now and it been perfected by Nigeria DSS security agents are doing this to paint IPOB back in the face of support and encouragement we are getting from our people.
“We know their plans and gimmick to discourage Biafrans who are encouraging and supporting us but it can’t work for them.
Anambra 2021; More Violence as Gunmen went on Rampage.
Gunmen were in action in two Anambra State locations on Sunday, killing four people and wounding numerous more at a political event.
The hoodlums also set fire to a car belonging to Dr Nelson Omenugha, a leader of the Prof. Chukwuma Soludo Campaign team.Soludo is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in Anambra State.
See also Gunmen Attack Police Check Point in Anambra.
While confirming the event, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, stated, “They shot and attacked the unsuspecting members on transit along Afor Nnobi Market.”
The victims were transported to the hospital, where they were subsequently pronounced dead by a medical specialist on duty.
The Police public relations officer identified the deceased as Johnbosco Ojokwu (33), Rapuluchukwu Ugoeze (30) and Chukwuemeka Nwokebagu (31), adding that, “The hoodlums also set ablaze one shuttle bus, one Toyota Sienna and a Toyota Hilux”.
Moreso, it was gathered that an APC member, whose name could not be confirmed, was slain in another volient incident in Nnewi, with hundreds injured.
Okelo Madukaife, the APC’s state publicity secretary, acknowledged the Nnewi incident.“The attack resulted in the death of a committed party official and the hospitalization of several others,” he stated.
“Our party regrets the invasion of our office and attack on members who were gathered for a meeting in Uruagu Ward 3, Nnewi, by persons yet- to -be- identified.“We regret the loss and regard it as one violence too many in Anambra State that ought to be the safest state in Nigeria.
“We acknowledge that security in Anambra State as an area that requires serious intervention.”
Anamabra Polls; AGF tests the waters threatens to Declare State of Emergency.
The Federal Government has threatened to declare a state of emergency in Anambra in order to safeguard the state’s governorship election on November 6.
Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, stated this on Wednesday following the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.Despite the spate of attacks and fatalities in the state, the minister stated that the government was resolved to ensuring a smooth election in Anambra.
“When our national security is attacked, and the sanctity of our constitutionally-guaranteed democracy is threatened, no possibility is ruled out,” Malami said.Continuing he said that,
“As a government, we have a responsibility to ensure the sustenance of our democratic order. As a government, we have a responsibility to provide security for lives and properties.
“So, within the context of these constitutional obligations of the government or the desire to establish democratic norms and order, there is no possibility that is ruled out.
“So, what I’m saying, in essence, is that no possibility is ruled out by government in terms of ensuring the sanctity of our democratic order, in terms of ensuring that our elections in Anambra hold.
“And you cannot rule out the possibility of declaration of state of emergency where it is established, in essence, that there is a failure on the part of the state government to ensure the sanctity of security of lives, properties and democratic order.”
Anambra 2021; More Violence recorded onas Gunmen Attack APGA Rally
Gunmen On Tuesday, invaded the location of an All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, rally at Odoata Central School Field in Ihiala, engaging security officers in Governor Willie Obiano’s convoy in a one-hour gunfight.
Although a soldier was shot during the shootout, there were unsubstantiated allegations that six civilians were killed and several others were injured.
The attackers were said to be from Mgbidi in Imo State, which shares a local government with Ihiala in Anambra State. Continue reading
Election Debate
