The Enugu State chapters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP) have distanced themselves from an endorsement made by Obioma Nnamani, the state chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, and Dr. Afam Ani, the Secretary, regarding the credibility of the just-concluded Local Government elections in Enugu State.

Hon. Obioma Nnamani and Dr. Afam Ani serve as the state chairman of the Boot Party (BP) and the Action Peoples Party (APP), respectively.

In a statement made available to DAILY GAZETTE on Sunday, APGA State Chairman, Ekene Uzodinma described the endorsement as “misleading and unrepresentative of the true state of affairs” concerning the elections.

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According to Uzodinma, APGA, as a party that actively participated in the elections, witnessed numerous irregularities and electoral malpractices that undermined the integrity of the whole process.

“While their endorsement of the election’s credibility is concerning, it contradicts APGA’s values and commitment to free and transparent democratic processes,” Uzodinma remarked.

He expressed disappointment that the Boot Party and APP, which, according to him, did not participate in the council elections, issued such a statement, given the concerns raised by political parties that actively contested the polls.

Uzodinma accused Nnamani and Ani of being compromised, rather than fulfilling their roles as Chairman and Secretary of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), respectively.

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He noted that their affirmation of the election’s credibility, despite the evident issues, called into question their impartiality and credibility.

Uzodinma urged the people of Enugu State and the public to disregard the statement made by Nnamani and Ani and reassured APGA supporters that the party remains committed to upholding democratic principles.

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He emphasized that APGA would continue to advocate for free, fair, and transparent elections in Enugu State.

On his part, the Chairman of the Young Progressives Party in Enugu State, Engr. Tony Udeani, said the statement issued by Nnamani and Ani, who serve as IPAC Chairman and Secretary, was particularly troubling.

“Neither of their parties participated in the LG election. So, they have no moral right to endorse the election process without consulting parties that were directly involved,” Udeani said.

“IPAC is an umbrella body consisting of 19 political parties, including the Boot Party and APP, but many of the parties that took part in the election have since expressed concern over the irregularities,” Udeani added.

Udeani alleged that the election was marred by the absence of result sheets in many polling units and a lack of elections in several areas.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has confidently stated that no one, including his political opponents, can defeat him, asserting that he is too powerful for anyone to challenge.

Speaking at a civic reception held in his honor by the Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress in Port Harcourt, Wike dismissed claims that the Ijaw people were against him in the ongoing political dispute involving Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

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Wike clarified that the Ijaw nation remains firmly behind him, despite contrary reports.

He explained that although some Ijaw individuals had opposed his decision to name Fubara as his successor in 2023, the broader Ijaw community supports him.

“It is not true that the Ijaw people are fighting me,” Wike said.

“A father may have 12 children, and one may go astray, but it doesn’t mean the entire family is in conflict. Those attacking me on television were absent when we made an Ijaw man governor.”

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Wike went on to boast about his political strength, saying, “I am too big for anyone to fight. All my opponents, put together, cannot defeat me.”

He also warned politicians from other states to stay away from Rivers State politics, emphasizing that the state is “very special” to him.

Addressing concerns about violence, Wike claimed that an attempt had been made to sabotage the reception event by sending individuals with dynamite to bomb the venue.

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“They were arrested by the police. We will not tolerate crime or violence in Rivers State,” Wike said, stressing that such actions were harmful to the state’s reputation and investor confidence.

He also spoke about his ongoing projects, highlighting the ring road project he initiated in Rivers State, criticizing those who now take credit for it, saying, “Go to Abuja, I am repeating what I did in Rivers State.” Wike stated that he had no intention of turning away investors due to political violence.

Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, Chairman of the PDP Elders Council in Rivers, also praised Wike, calling him the “most celebrated Rivers politician on the national stage.”

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Wike was joined at the reception by key members of the G-5, also known as the integrity group, including former Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state.

Other notable attendees included Adamawa State Governor Umaru Fintiri and Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri.

Despite a boycott by other parties, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has cleared all chairmanship and councilorship seats in the Anambra State Local Government Election held on Saturday.

The results, officially announced by the state’s Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), revealed that APGA candidates swept through all 21 local government areas in the state.

APGA, a dominant force in Anambra State politics for years, secured victories in both rural and urban areas, defying predictions of a more competitive contest.

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DAILY GAZETTE reports that the election witnessed low voter turnout, as several parties in the state chose to boycott the election.

Some residents expressed their support for APGA candidates, citing improved governance and development under Governor Soludo’s administration.

The voting exercise, which commenced late at many polling units across the state due to the late arrival of ANSIEC ad-hoc staff and election materials, was predominantly conducted by APGA members.

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This indicated an obvious boycott by members of other political parties, some of which are currently in various courts challenging the validity of the council polls.

Voter apathy marked the 2024 Local Government Elections in Anambra State, as residents of Onitsha, the state’s commercial hub, largely abstained from voting.

Observers noted that while people were seen within their neighborhoods, they showed little interest in heading to polling stations on election day.

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This local government election, the first in Anambra in 11 years, failed to attract significant public engagement, with commercial drivers openly flouting the state-imposed restriction on movement.

They continued their regular operations, transporting passengers and goods across the city despite the official directive.

Several residents cited past issues with the credibility of the electoral process as their reason for staying away.

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Mrs. Chinyere Olisa, who spoke to a NAN correspondent, recalled her frustration in the 2023 presidential election when her name was missing from the voter roll despite having traveled home specifically to vote.

“I wasted my time and money,” she lamented, stating she had no intention of going through the same ordeal again.

Mrs. Gloria Effiong, a food vendor, noted that there was little election-related campaigning, leaving many unaware that the polls were even taking place.

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“There was no house-to-house campaign, and no one reached out to inform me about the election,” she said, adding that she was focused on earning a living and wouldn’t be remembered by elected officials even if they won.

Samuel Chidi, a tricycle operator, expressed skepticism about the integrity of the elections, claiming that the results were predetermined by the electoral authorities.

“The people’s votes no longer count,” he said, emphasizing his lack of confidence in the process and stating that he had no intention of voting.

The Labour Party (LP) has filed a lawsuit against the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) at the Federal High Court in Awka, challenging the publication of a list of candidates purported to be from the party for the local government elections on September 28, 2024.

The suit, numbered FHC/AWK/223/2024, also names the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the director-general of the State Security Services (SSS), and 14 others as defendants.

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At a press briefing held in Awka, LP’s Publicity Secretary in Anambra, Chief Theo Egbe, revealed that the party had officially withdrawn from the election.

He denounced the names listed as LP candidates in eight of the state’s 21 local government areas—Idemili-North, Orumba-North, Nnewi-North, Aguata, Awka-North, Oyi, and Anambra East—as “fake.”

According to Egbe, these candidates were primarily members of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and included individuals from local government transition committees.

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Egbe further accused the state legislature of manipulating the amendments to ANSIEC’s governing law and election guidelines, which he claimed were designed to favor the ruling party and disadvantage opposition parties.

He assured that the LP had no internal divisions and that the party’s national leadership, led by Nenadi Usman, had also endorsed the withdrawal from the local government elections.

In a related development, both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have also withdrawn from the elections, citing concerns that amendments to the ANSIEC Act conflicted with national laws governing the conduct of elections by INEC.

Additionally, the national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Edozie Njoku, condemned the list of APGA candidates as illegal, asserting that it was not endorsed by his party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Buba Galadima, a prominent member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has asserted that the upcoming cabinet reshuffle by President Bola Tinubu will not bring about any significant change for Nigerians.

On September 25, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, announced that Tinubu intends to reorganize his cabinet, although he did not provide a specific timeline for this change.

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During an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Friday, Galadima criticized the planned reshuffle, arguing that it fails to address the pressing challenges faced by ordinary Nigerians.

He suggested that the move is more about rewarding political allies than improving governance.

Galadima pointed out the ongoing foreign exchange crisis affecting the naira, urging the president to prioritize resolving this economic issue.

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“The planned cabinet reshuffle has nothing to do with me or any Nigerian,” he stated. “What matters to us is alleviating the harsh living conditions. Ultimately, accountability lies with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. No reshuffling will make a difference if it’s merely a ‘job for the boys.’”

He emphasized that those in power must be held responsible for their cabinet’s performance, remarking that many appointees appear more focused on personal gain than effective service delivery.

“I expected him to do better and to act decisively,” he added.