The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the just concluded governorship election in Anambra State, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, has lamented the shortcomings on the parts of some various government institutions.
He said that security agencies failed to provide a peaceful environment for campaigns to hold, as their personnel were absent from many polling centres, leading to elections not holding or held in situations that allowed for chaos and fraud.
Ozigbo made his position known in a statement forwarded to DAILY POST on Thursday against the backdrops of the outcome of the just concluded gubernatorial election in the state.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Returning Officer, Professor Florence Obi, had early Wednesday morning, declared Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) winner of the November 6 election.
However, Ozigbo berated INEC, saying it presented poorly trained staff who could not operate the voting machines in many places.
He accused the Governor Willie Obiano government of using funds and resources to corrupt, coerce and intimidate voters, and further posited that all of these led to the disenfranchisement of the greater percentage of voters and straining the course of democracy.
According to the flagbearer, “I will be dedicating time to champion the positive change we need to ensure that future elections are truly free and fair and that the will of the electorate prevails.
“Denominational politics was also a factor. We need to do a lot more to ensure that competence is never sacrificed on this altar and that democracy is practiced in line with its truest tenets”.
Ozigbo, however, reiterated that he remained “more determined to work for a better future for our children by remaining in active politics and rebuilding the PDP to be more united and more robust for those who come after us.”
Meanwhile, Ozigbo congratulated Soludo on his resounding victory in the election.