The political landscape in Anambra state has been thrown into uncertainty as the Labour Party's gubernatorial candidate, George Moghalu, has formally rejected the outcome of the November 8 governorship election that produced Professor Charles Soludo as winner.
Election Results Spark Controversy
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the incumbent Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as the winner of the hotly contested election. Professor Soludo secured an impressive 422,664 votes and remarkably won in all 21 local government areas across the state.
According to the official announcement made on Sunday, November 9, by Professor Edoba Omoregie, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin who served as INEC's chief returning officer, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) finished second with 99,445 votes. The Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Labour Party placed third and fourth respectively in the final tally.
Labour Party Candidate Cries Foul
George Moghalu, speaking from his Nnewi office shortly after the official declaration of results, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the electoral process. The Labour Party candidate described the election as "a ruse and a total subversion of the people's will", alleging numerous irregularities that marred the exercise.
Moghalu, who has contested in previous elections, stated that "this one was different", pointing to what he called "alarming levels of vote-buying" throughout the voting process. His rejection of the results adds to the growing list of candidates questioning the credibility of the Anambra governorship election.
What Next for Labour Party?
The Labour Party candidate revealed that his camp is awaiting a comprehensive report of the election proceedings before determining their next course of action. "Once I get the full report of the election, we will analyse it and then determine our next course of action. But one thing is clear: I reject the result," Moghalu emphatically stated to journalists.
This development comes as the Labour Party, which counts former Anambra governor and presidential hopeful Peter Obi among its prominent members, continues to establish its presence in Nigerian politics. The party's strong rejection of the election outcome signals potential legal challenges ahead.
The election was also marred by violence, with Governor Soludo confirming the tragic assassination of a councillor by gunmen at Owerre Ezukala community in Orumba South Local Government Area during the election.
