By Masterweb News Desk

[ A Press Conference Speech On Sunday, February 7, 2010 By Peter Obi, Incumbent Governor of Anambra State, On His Re-Election Victory At The Polls. ]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to address you and indeed the entire world on the Gubernatorial election which was conducted in Anambra yesterday.

This election was unique in several respects: one, it was the only one that was conducted throughout Nigeria yesterday. Two, the entire world literally monitored it either directly or indirectly. Thirdly, although the age-old inadequacies of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in terms of poor preparation, late arrival of electoral materials, etc, manifested, they were minimal.

However, in spite of the foregoing, vote-counting, collation and announcement of results were relatively transparent. I wish to commend the INEC, election observers and monitors in this connection. For this singular reason also, I accept the result of the election as declared by INEC, namely, that I won this election.

May I take this opportunity to thank the good people of Anambra State for their massive support for me. By returning me for a second term, you have shown that you support our modest efforts at transforming our dear State. I promise you that my team and I will even do more in our second term to better your lot.

As for my brothers and sisters who contested the election with me, I commend them for their patriotism and desire to serve our people. You have no doubt put up a gallant fight. What is most important now is that we remain good brothers and sisters that we have been over the years and join hands in building a better Anambra State for ourselves and our children.

Finally, may I sincerely thank everyone – the security agencies, journalists (local and international) , the political class, election monitors and observers, the clergy – just everyone who has contributed one way or another in ensuring that this election succeeded in spite of some odds.

May God bless all of us!

Peter Obi, Governor, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Photo Above: Anambra State Governor Peter Obi

Josiah Uwazuronye, Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), late Sunday declared incumbent Governor Peter Obi winner of the state gubernatorial election held on Saturday. In his announcement Uwazuronye said: “Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and his return elected.”

According to INEC announcement, Governor Obi overwhelmingly won the election with 97,843 votes, ahead of closest rival Chris Ngige of Action Congress (AC) opposition party, who amassed 60,240. Chukwuma Soludo of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came in third with 59,365 votes.

Emeka Anyaouku, former Commonwealth Secretary General told newsmen in Lagos that Anambra election would shape the direction elections take next year, adding that Nigeria was at a crossroads where its affairs were not as bright as they should be. Dora Akunyili, Nigeria Information Minister speaking with local AIT television news crew at the INEC office in Awka, said the election showed the need for electoral reform. ( Continues below….. )

Photo Above: Governor Peter Obi (Left), Wife (Right)

Election results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) early Sunday morning from 5 local governments put incumbent Governor Peter Obi ahead of 24 other gubernatorial contenders. Peter Obi, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) flag bearer, amassed a total of 23,337 votes from Anambra East, Onitsha South, Awka South, Dunukofia and Ekwusigo Local Government Areas. He is trailed by Chris Ngige, Action Congress (AC) candidate, who rolled in 13,270 votes. Chukwuma Soludo, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer came in third with 12,607 votes. INEC is yet to announce results from 16 local government areas. There are a total of 21 local government areas in Anambra State.

Unofficial results compiled by unconfirmed sources on Saturday from 13 local government areas, put Peter Obi ahead of other candidates. INEC declaration of Obi, the winner, and the precision of the prediction of Saturday’s unconfirm sources shows the extent private election monotoring has grown in Nigeria.

Anambra Election Watch Log for Saturday, February 6, 2010.

[ INEC went ahead and held Anambra gubernatorial election Saturday, despite a Federal High Court ruling barring it. INEC said it had not been served any court order barring the election. ]

Election News Update - Saturday, February 6, 2010

[8.00 am - 9.00 am] - Electoral materials leave INEC’s office for polling centers amidst tight security. Buses conveying electoral materials followed by opposition parties in hired buses.

9.00 am - Scores of policemen are stranded at the Police Divisional Headquareters in Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA, with no vehicles to convey them to their assigned polling stations. Many are hitch hiking rides on both private and commercial vehicles. Officially polling boths are to open at 8.00 am.

9.00 am - There are no INEC staff nor election materials at several polling boths. INEC blames the police for the delay in the arrival of election materials.

9.30 am - Thugs beat up Olufemi Aduwo, INEC monitoring Committee member after he claimed to have discovered a list of INEC officials set up for bribery. Violence between suspected PDP thugs and some election monitors at Barn Hotel, Awka.

10.00 am - Election officials and materials arrive Oko, hometown of Alex Ekwueme. Voters are just now beginning to queue up in line to cast their votes. There are no election officials nor materials at Isuofia, hometown of Chukwuma Soludo, PDP gubernatorial candidate. Voters are patiently waiting at polling stations.

10.40 am - Election materials for to the various polling centers are just now being distributed at Ekwulobia Central School. A fake policeman arrested at the headquarters of Oyi Local Govt. as he tried to enter a police escort van.

11.00 am - Police at Awka North LG orders voting to stop at booths without security agents. Youth Corpers recruited as election officials are stranded at Aguata LG headquarters, because there are no vehicles to take them to their polling stations.

11.30 am - Voting yet to start at Uga, hometown of Andy Uba. Tension mounts in Achalla, Awka North Local Govt. as people await election officials and materials.

12.00 pm - Voting materials at Isuofia, Aguata LG reportedly loaded in a van and driven away to an undisclosed location. Election materials arrive Okpuno Ezinifite, three hours behind schedule. Most voters at Ojoto cannot find their names in the register.

12.15 pm - Voting has not started at Ogbunike and Umunya, both in Oyi LGA. Thugs moving around town in buses at Ogbunike.

1.00 pm - Uwazuruonye, a member of Anambra House of Assembly arrives at the office of the resident electoral commissioner in Awka South LG. complaining voting is yet to start at his ward, Awka VII.

1.30 pm - Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner’s office announces that the elections must stop at 4.00 pm as scheduled. According to the statement, after that hour, no voter would be allowed into any polling station, but people already in line could continue voting. Fighting reported at Ifitedunu.

1.45 pm - Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner’s office announces extension of voting across the state to 5.00 pm. Many names are reportedly missing from voters’ registers across the state.

2.00 pm - Fierce fight reported in Agukwu Nri in Aniocha LGA between PPA and APGA supporters. Damien Ejidike, a PDP member, arrested with voters’ cards at Ichi in Ekwusigo LGA.

3.15 pm - Damien Ejidike released.

3.30 pm - Ballot box missing at Uli Ward I, Unit 26. Ballot boxes been snatched at Okpokp Ward VI by thugs.

4.00 pm - Thugs armed to the teeth invade several polling stations snatching ballot boxes as voting winds down for counting at the polling boths. Security agents unable to contain thugs as they are armless at the boths as ordered by INEC.

4.10 pm - Igboukwu polling station attacked by heavily armed thugs in two green buses(one without license plates) shooting into the air and threatening security operatives and INEC officials with death. Thugs load up ballot boxes into buses, but were challenged by the army as they drove off. In a fierce shootout with the army, they abandoned the buses and as they fled four were captured and taken to Aguata police station.

4.20 pm - Voting ends in a couple of LGAs that did not witness armed snatching of ballot boxes by thugs, Dunukofia LGA one of them. Counting begins at these LGAs.

5.30 pm - Gov. Peter Obi (APGA candidate) is reported leading in Ihiala, Onithsa North, Onitsha South, Oyi, Aniocha, Ogbaru and Aguata LGAs. Chris Ngige (APGA candidate) reportedly leading in Idemili South and Idemili North LGAs. Uche Ekwunife (PPA candidate) leads in Dunukofia her home base, according to our source. Chukwuma Soludo (PDP candidate) has not won any LGA so far according to the same source.

6.00 pm - According to sources, incumbent Governor Peter Obi is leading in 13 out of the 21 local government areas of the state. Chris Ngige (AC) is said to be trailing Obi with Soludo (PDP) third, Andy Uba (LP) fourth and Ekwunife (PPA) fifth. Olisa Metuh, National Vice Chairman of PDP SE zone, describes the election as a charade, saying what took place could not pass for a credible election. Labour Party candidate, Andy Uba, describes the election a “complete mess”, wondering how a winner could emerge from it. APGA leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu showered praises on INEC and security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the election.

Friday, February 5, 2010

12.00 pm - Security forces are on high alert in Anambra State, as count down to the governorship election scheduled for Saturday begins. Masterweb correspondent reports that as at 12.00 pm today 10,000 Civil Defence Officers were in front of the Anambra State Police Headquarters awaiting deployment.

*Tags: Nigerians, Anambra, State, Abuja, Lagos, Yar’Adua, Goodluck, Jonathan, Africa, Masterweb

23 comments

Comments:

Comment from: NGBOR SARO JOSEPH NGBORACE [Visitor]

Thank God for the safety of life and property toward the peaceful conduct of the election as written in the net.I never witness it because I am away from the country but if what is written is what is obtainable,then glory be to God and the effort of the Nigerian Army whose able intervention,the thugs were made to abandoned their seized ballot boxes. It is a sign of relief and wish the country to learn from their past.
Congratulation to the winner and to those who couldnot make it I say don`t lose hope. And please to Mr Governor,work with your co-contenders for a better unity and good-work-force.
Good-luck to All.
SARO(New-York)

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 03:26

Comment from: Nwabueze [Visitor]

god father-ism and money bag politics though a deadly monster in Nigeria politics is shedding its wind.Weldone my brother Peter Obi just go ahead and deliver on your good promises prosterity would tell the better story.

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 03:27

Comment from: ABUBAKAR LABARAN ADAMU [Visitor] · http://kaduna

Am flabagested and superflously overjoy by the fact, that for first time INEC hold Election devoid of racor.The Election is free and fair to the suprise of most Nigerians.

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 03:40

Comment from: okpozu Otsima [Visitor]

How has the mighty fallen, this is just the begining of the fall of the boastful Soludo and his PDP cohorts
I'm certian the will bite more dust come 2011. But going by the number of security agents engaged
during the elections where are we going get such numbers to ensure a free and fairly fair elections in
2011. This are other matters arising from this land mark elections are issues to consider before 2011.

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 03:47

Comment from: prince oliver udeabor [Visitor]

Am happy on the outcome of the election, i think God has stepped into electoral confusions in Nigeria to the effect that those without the real fear of God may not sell political positions in future. For rejecting the occultic titles others would have joyfully embraced Mr Peter Obi has shown that he's on the Lord's side. May the good Lord continue to grant him wisdom as He did to his bibilical namesake amen.

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 04:47

Comment from: STEVE [Visitor] · http://yahoo

The election is commendable. At least it is free and fair and the will of the people was respected. God is at work in Anambra state and we pray that it continues that way. May we continue to enjoy the blessings of His Almighty God who has remembered the state this time around.

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 06:10

Comment from: godknows opuda [Visitor]

God has prooved him self in anambra state,congrats to gov peter obi

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 06:57

Comment from: stevo [Visitor]

the only thing that is constant in life is change .And that is what is going in Anambra State now . i live in germany but from Imo state.the issue of God fatherism have past .i thank my ibo people have known truth and there eyes have open .i say congratulation to peter obi and INEC officials .they work to leave a good examples.

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 07:30

Comment from: Peter Agwu [Visitor]

Showing respect for the opposition and recognising the importance of their participation in the electoral process is the first dividend of democracy. To acknowledge and encourage their effort publicly is the true "power to the people" that we have all long craved for. Peter Obi, for some unexplained resaons has the support of the Anambra people. Ndi Anambra just him in a way that cannot be directly related to performance or accountability

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 09:28

Comment from: Dr S. Ojiaka [Visitor]

Thanks to the people of Anambara State for the succesful conduct of their gubernatorial election and congratulations to the INEC and all that made this possible.At this
point it might not be a 100% successful outcome,but 80% outcome is better than a 0% result.By that I mean that it could have been more chaotic and nothing would
have been done about it other than an indefinite result.At least we have some thing to build on and the INEC can improve from what they have learned from this and add it to make the 2011 general election a more successful outcome.Congratulations to the Incumbent Governor Peter Obi and wish him a successful Governorship in Anambara State.

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 11:26

Comment from: Dr S. Ojiaka [Visitor]

Thanks to the people of Anambara State for the succesful conduct of their gubernatorial election and congratulations to the INEC and all that made this possible.At this
point it might not be a 100% successful outcome,but 80% outcome is better than a 0% result.By that I mean that it could have been more chaotic and nothing would
have been done about it other than an indefinite result.At least we have some thing to build on and the INEC can improve from what they have learned from this and add it to make the 2011 general election a more successful outcome.Congratulations to the Incumbent Governor Peter Obi and wish him a successful Governorship in Anambara State.

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 11:26

Comment from: ozorigbindu n obosi [Visitor] · http://from spain

congratulation to peter obi our there Governor of anambra for winning in this second team dispires every changelings involved.i pray that God will strenght him to work and show exemplary to the past governors,am pleading to you the able governor to press or push more securities and electricities steandy one with lights security will hold tire in Anambra State please is the most important thing dont neglect it,if possible create your own power or state solar energies ,make it as challenges to other state, use example of the Westerns police and army and form Anambra own in same way and method OK,if possible sign as agreement with KIA or ford companies to furnish you with cars for sercuties in Anambra state spread those cars,jeeps to every looks and corners of every police posts in anambra and also furnish them enough arminations, radio messages and bikes, just ask westerns and Americans does there own,secondly we need good roads and steand water and health centre etc it Will be OK for us,is only you and ngige i have counted as the best Governor anambra have provided so far.we ve been in suffering of bad governance ever since creature of anambra state,please Obi make us proud as the best so far make a reformed Anambra State.long live peter obi,long live anambra and long live Nigeria

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 11:52

Comment from: Onuorah ebuka [Visitor] · http://Yahoo.com

Mr Peter obi is a god sent.he knows de heart of de poor people.he is a trustward person.keep it up for a better Anambra state.i love mr peter obi .he is work and see.he worked to de test of people.

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 12:16

Comment from: Mazi Okoye E [Visitor]

I did not vote because I am far away from home. But I prayed that Peter Obi should win despite my soft spot for Soludo and Ngige.
The reason I prayed for him to win is because of his unfinished project with microsoft and Igbo language.
Please my dear Governor, you will write your name in GOLD if you make it possible for Ibo sons and daughters across the globe to communicate in our precious Igbo language through the internet. We will be benefiting from the creation of our son Phillip Chukwura Emeagwali.
The population of Ibo sons and daughters who spend more of their life time outside Iboland is more than the population of any Igbo speaking state in Nigeria.
As a result, the language is being lost gradually. With Igbo language in the internet, we will re-invent the language for our good and for the future generation.
God bless you.

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 12:28

Comment from: nelson arinzechi o [Visitor]

The re-election of Governor Peter Obi is a prayer ansered God.So i appeal to all other political parties to join hand and support

Permalink 02/08/10 @ 12:46

Comment from: Surv Uhalla A [Visitor] [Visitor] · http://yahoo.com

It is a thing of joy that Nigerian electorates have started to understand the true game of politics and its ingredients by voting for reality and not for speculations or empty promises. Mr Peter Obi has been re-elected by his people for what he has already done, what he is doing and what the people know he can do in that state and should therefore step up his present achievements to convince the entire Nigerians that his second coming is not to gather fire wood for himself against the rainy days, but to write his name in the marble of great achievements and visible developments for the future generations of Anambrarians and the entire world to be proud of. Your second coming as governor should make the entire people of Anambra State, firends and well wishers of the state not to regret your re-election. May your name Peter (the ROCk) be your watch word and do not fail God whom I know that you believe and worship. God will guide you and your good intentions for the people of your state. know it that the people are watching and God is not asleep. Bravo.

Permalink 02/09/10 @ 02:23

Comment from: bellona dema [Visitor]

good luck mr governor, may the almaight God protect u, and ur family, so that evil people will not see u or miss lead u, i pray that God should give u wisdom to apply bcos he has put u there. God bless u mor and Anambra state.

Permalink 02/09/10 @ 10:11

Comment from: bellona dema [Visitor]

good luck mr governor, may the almaight God protect u, and ur family, so that evil people will not see u or miss lead u, i pray that God should give u wisdom to apply bcos he has put u there. God bless u more and Anambra state.

Permalink 02/09/10 @ 10:13

Comment from: Simon Tyodzua Iorkegh [Visitor] · http://yahoo.com

congratulations His excellency, Mr. Peter Obi. The entire nigerians and indeed lover of democracy have recieved the news of your victory at the just concluded gubernatoria election in Anambra with utmost happiness.your victory at the poll cleary shows that HONESTY and TRUTH can not be suppressed.May the good Lord continue to give you long life and strength to deliver to the good people of Anambra state who refused to be stampeded.Congratulations.

Permalink 02/10/10 @ 06:59

Comment from: Comment from: Chigozie Iroegbu [Visitor]

congratalution the governor Mr Obi, it is true that you won the election in Anambra State for the second tenue. One thing with our Nigeria politicans is promises that they can not keep firm. People commended you for your 1st tenue hopeful you will not change to serve the poor masses that stood behind you under the sun to saw you througth. I forsaw this country to be good and rule by people who has the interest of this nation rather than their own personal interest. God has stated it and he will reshape this country the way everybody will feel sence of belonging. (fair justice and equity)

Permalink 02/10/10 @ 09:12

Comment from: Nnamso Mark [Visitor] · http://www.ymail.com

Glory be to God in the Highest.Now the UNTOUCHABLE PDP can go back to the
drawing board because a House (be it abacha block) divided against itself
cannot stand.This is a clear indication that power will change HAND in 2011 if
the people are allowed to choose the candidate of their choice. Congrats Sir,
now you can go and continue your good works.

Permalink 02/11/10 @ 04:50

Comment from: Walmak Gupar [Visitor] · http://www.yahoo.com

I want to congratlate INEC for a Job well done In Anambra. But one needs cuatuion them, that Anambra Can Not be used as yardstick to judge how 2011 General Election is gouing to be.
From the look of events that have unfolded itself in Anambra, it shows that INEC does not have the manpower to run an efficient election in the country. Therefore INEC should go back to its Drawing Board and devise a plan on how they can better our electoral system.

Permalink 02/11/10 @ 05:09

Comment from: erzone [Visitor] · http://www.erzone.de

Thank god for Peter Obi! I hope all other political parties to join hand and support that work.

Permalink 03/02/10 @ 08:08

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