Anambra: Shettima Defends Result of APC Governorship Primary

By  Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Borno State Governor and the Chairman of the committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) which organised the party’s governorship primaries for Anambra State, Kassim Shettima, has said that he can vouch for the integrity of the exercise that led to the victory of Tony Nwoye.

The conduct of the APC’s governorship primary election in the state had sparked off protests especially from one the leading aspirants, Senator Andy Ubah who faulted the process and is seeking the cancellation of the exercise.

However, the governor who submitted the report of his committee to the party’s leadership yesterday said that none of the 12 contestants who took part in the elections raised any questions on the integrity of all processes before, during and after the August 26 primaries which held in Awka, capital of Anambra State.

Shettima, in company of the committee’s Secretary, Navy Commander Giwa Daramola (rtd), and three members, Muazu Magaji,  Ray Murphy and Mustapha Mayana, formally presented the report to the National Organising Secretary of the APC, Osita Izunaso, at the residence of the party’s Chairman, Chief Odigie-Oyegun, in Abuja  yesterday evening.

Shettima said: “The committee particularly notes with satisfaction that before and during the election, all aspirants confirmed to have received the list of delegates. The committee also notes with satisfaction that before and during the election, none of the aspirants raised questions concerning the integrity of the list of delegates.”

He said the committee noted with satisfaction that all delegates were duly accredited and conveyed to voting venue in the presence of agents of all aspirants and none of the agents raised questions about the integrity of the process before and during the election.

“The committee notes with satisfaction that  none of the aspirants questioned procedures of voting, sorting, collation and counting of results before, during and after the election.

“The committee notes with satisfaction that security agencies provided adequate personnel that guaranteed the integrity of the entire process and that none of aspirants raised questions concerning the integrity of any security personnel.

Speaking further, Shettima said  the chairman of the election appeal panel , former Minister of Works, Dr. Hassan Lawal, was in Awka with the committee and that he observed all election processes.

“Political Adviser to the President, Femi Ojudu, was also in Awka to observe the election at the instance of the National Secretariat and he has prepared his report. The committee also notes that the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) observed conduct of the election in compliance with electoral laws.

“Most importantly, the committee notes with satisfaction that the election held peacefully with none of the aspirants raising any complaints before the committee in relation to the integrity of all processes of the election” the governor read from the conclusion of the report.” he said.

Receiving the report, the APC National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, commended the governor and members of his ‎committee for what he described as a ‘good job’ promising to table the report before the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

He thanked the governor for accepting what he called “a difficult national assessment that most people tend to avoid.”

The governor and members of his committee later held a closed door session with members of the NWC led by Oyegun.”