Politics

Oshiomhole Congratulates Soludo over Election Victory in Anambra Guber Poll

The immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress and former governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has congratulated Professor Charles Soludo for emerging victorious in the just concluded governorship election in Anambra State.

Also, there were goodwill messages from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and a women’s group, African Women Forum for Good Governance (AWFG).

Oshiomhole’s position was made this known yesterday, through a statement made available to press by his media aide, Victor Oshioke.

The statement read in full: “Dear Prof. Charles Soludo, I congratulate you on your victory in the Anambra governorship election concluded recently. It is indeed a victory richly deserved given your impressive antecedents.

Now that the election is over, the expectations of Anambra people are understandably high especially because of your rich background. You therefore have a unique opportunity to raise the bar in politics and governance to meet the aspirations of Anambra people.

“I pray that God give you good health, better understanding, wisdom, vision and more courage to build on the foundation laid by your predecessors to take Anambra State to an enviable level

“May I also use this medium to congratulate my friend Dr. Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress and Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party for their good showing in the election. Democracy thrives best when there is healthy contestation and credible alternatives for the people to choose from. They both provided that choice creditabstate

Finally, I congratulate the good people of Anambra State for peacefully expressing their political preferences, thus further deepening democracy in our environment. It is my hope that the choice they freely and collectively made at the polls ultimately translates into a better life for them in the future.”

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on its part congratulated Prof. Soludo and Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim on their victory at the poll.

The NMA, in a congratulatory message signed by Dr Jide Onyekwelu and Dr Dubem Awachie, Chairman and Secretary of the Anambra State Branch of the association said they are glad that the incoming administration has a medical doctor as a deputy and expressed the hope that it would be a new dawn for the health sector in the state

Meanwhile, a women empowerment and advocacy group, African Women Forum for Good Governance (AWFG), has praised Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano for recognizing and rewarding Mrs Eunice Ngozi Onuegbusi, an Ukwulu Indigene who rejected N5,000 offered her by a political party agent to sell her vote.

Mrs. Onuegbusi had been seen in a viral video that surfaced during the just concluded governorship election in the state vehemently rejected the bribe, opting to vote her conscience, a move which caused Governor Obiano tgo give her a reward of N1million on Thursday.

Meanwhie, a civil society organisation (CSO), The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), has said that the difficulties experienced in the recent Anambra governorship election may affect the conduct of the 2023 general election.

In a report on the election, CDD noted that the increasing security challenges and glitches experienced with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) raised concerns on the need for extensive preparation and training before using the technology for the general elections.

The CDD also said noted that fake news and fear of the powers of the federal government could be blamed for the voter apathy seen in Anambra.

The report read in part, “the Anambra governorship election experience is an indication of the difficulties that might affect the conduct of the 2023 general election as insecurity spreads and deepens in most parts of the country,”