Yesterday’s Anambra State supplementary governorship election in a way shattered myths. One of them was the notion that Idemili North of the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer, Senator Chris Ngige, as he lost narrowly with five votes to Chief Willie Obiano of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the state Governor-elect.
Besides, the populist Ngige, who had been marketed as a strong contender for the plum post, was beaten to the third position by Comrade Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Obiano, a retired bank chief, was declared winner about 12:45 a.m. by the state returning officer in the governorship election concluded yesterday, Prof. James Epoke, who is also Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar.
Declaring the final result in the state capital, Awka, Epoke said that Obiano won 180,178 votes while Nwoye scored 97,700 votes to place second, with Ngige coming third with 95,953 votes.
“Chief Willie N. Obiano of APGA having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and returned as governor,” Epoke said.
Obiano had led the first round of voting on November 16 and 17 with 174,710 votes and secured 25% in 18 of the 21 local government areas of the state but was not declared winner because the margin of victory over second-placed Comrade Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was less that the canceled votes.
