By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The winner of the November 6 Anambra state Governorship Election and candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and his Deputy, Gilbert Onyekachukwu Ibezim have officially received their Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The presentation of the Certificate of Return was performed on Friday in Awka, the state capital by the National Chairman of INEC, Professor
Mahmood Yakubu, represented by the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye.
With the presentation of the Certificate of Return, INEC has completed all the constitutional requirements to produce a governor of a state in Nigeria.
Speaking at the ceremony Okoye said that the
issuance of a Certificate of Return to the Governor and Deputy Governor- elect of Anambra State signify the fact that they won the just concluded 2021 Anambra State governorship election and satisfied the constitutional and legal requirements in section 179 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended).
Said he: “I consider it dutiful to welcome you to the ceremony for the presentation of Certificates of Return to the Governor and Deputy Governor elect of Anambra State. This ceremony is in compliance with section 75 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) which mandates the Commission to issue a Certificate of Return to the Governor and Deputy Governor elect of Anambra State signifying the fact that they won the just concluded 2021 Anambra State governorship election and satisfied the constitutional and legal requirements in section 179 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended)”.
He however, reminded Soludo and his Deputy that the tenure of the incumbent Governor of Anambra State Chief Willie Obiano will expire on March 17, 2022 hence both will not assume office immediately, adding that they must wait for the incumbent Governor and his Deputy to complete their four year tenure before they can be sworn in.
Speaking further Okoye stated that: “There is no doubt that the Commission conducted the 6th and 9th November 2021 Governorship Election in difficult circumstances.
“Indeed, the election was conducted in a challenging environment accentuated by fear, anxiety and uncertainty occasioned by political agitation in the southeast geopolitical zone. As we all know, agitations of this kind occurs often in multi-ethnic and multi-cultural political settings where identities are politically mobilized in the struggle for power and resources and sometimes in the desire for a just and equitable society”.
According to him: “The significant point to note, however, is that the Commission has remained firm and resolute in proceeding with the election based on its understanding of section 178 of the Constitution which circumscribed the conduct of elections within a firm and immovable constitutional compass. The consequences of aborting the election would have been a serious constitutional crisis and political uncertainty that could have further threatened Nigeria’s stability and survival.
“Against this backdrop, the fact that we are here today making this presentation after an election that has been widely acclaimed as meeting regional standards of free and fair election is a clear affirmation that Nigerians and the citizens of Anambra State in particular believe in democracy, not only as a means of addressing the numerous development challenges, but also a framework for the resolution of the multifarious dimensions of the National Question”.
Meanwhile, the INEC National Commissioner has restated that “the Commission will audit the conduct of this election as it is the tradition after every major election in order to reflect on things that worked well and those that failed to work as desired; and use the lessons learned in the preparation for the next set of elections. It is in this regard and the benefits offered by the Electoral Cycle Approach adopted by the Commission that we now believe that the present trends of conducting elections imbued with integrity has become irreversible”.
With specific reference to genuine concerns expressed by citizens on the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the February 6, 2021 Anambra governorship election, the Commission wishes to state categorically that it stands to benefit from such criticisms and promises that these challenges will be addressed as was evident in the improved functionality of the BVAS in the supplementary election in Ihiala Local Government Area.
In conclusion Okoye insisted that: “We are confident in our judgment that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System will remain a fundamental feature of our accreditation process as it will consign into the dustbin of history worrisome incidents of multiple voting and identity theft that in the past denied the country’s electoral process the desired public trust and confidence. On this note, the Commission will continue to improve on and perfect the technology for subsequent and future elections”.
He commended the doggedness, resilience and courage of INEC permanent and ad-hoc staff that defied all the odds and grave dangers to personal life and safety to traverse the entire terrain of Anambra State to conduct this election, the security agencies that remained firm and professional in supporting the Commission throughout the election period and beyond and the vibrant Nigerian media for the extensive coverage of the election.
“More fundamentally, we thank the people of Anambra State for their firm belief in democracy. They understood the sovereign right imbedded in the vote and elevated the value and quality of the vote through vigilance and mandate protection”.
