I’ll Not Contest Election Result In Court, I Wish Obiano Well — Obaze

The Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] candidate in just-concluded Anambra State governorship election, Mr Henry Oseloka Obaze has declared that he will not challenge the result of the election as announced by the Independent national Election Commission [INEC].

Mr Obaze said this during a live television interview with African Independent Television [AIT].

During the interview, Obaze said that “it is not necessary”.

His words: “I think we waste an awful lot of time and resources going to court. But that is why we insist that INEC must be above board.

“Election processes in this country should conclude on the day of election with everybody satisfied, even the defeated.

“If it is transparent, if it is clear and you feel that the statutory body has done its work, you should be able to congratulate your opponent, the winner, and walk away from it.

“This emphasis on getting judicial interpretation for political processes is diminishing our democracy.

“It is costing us a lot of money… That shouldn’t be. 

“There are people who think that unless you go through the hog, cause the confusion, and then go and get judgement in court.

“Judgement in court should be one-off thing, used occasionally. 

“It should not become routine to determine who goes to Government House, or who goes to National or State Assembly. That is wrong!

“I’m not going to be a party to it.”

On the issue of his alleged rejection of the election result, re emphasised that he NEVER did “reject” the result.

Rather, he pointed out that “the Anambra State governorship election results just released by INEC, does not reflect the realities of the votes cast on 18 November by the Anambra electorate.”

He recounted some incidences whereby votes outnumbered the number of accredited voters.

He stressed that since accreditation and voting were carried out simultaneously, there should not have been any discrepancies as witnessed from the results.

In a statement issued earlier, he had said:

“The over voting and inconsistencies between the counted ballots and card reader data remains exceedingly worrisome.

“The uniformity of the incumbent governor wining twenty-one local governments is a political aberration in the context of Anambra politics. 

“The election results as reported, shows that nothing matters to the Anambra electorate.  The people have spoken. 

“They have taken a cursory long term view of what they wish for Anambra State,” he had noted.

He also pointed out an ironic information he got few weeks earlier wherein he was told the PDP will finish a distant third and which prophetically came true.

See attached remarks by Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, PDP governorship candidate congratulating H. E. Gov Willie M. Obiano on winning the 18 November, 2017 governorship election in Anambra State and paying tribute to Dr. Alex Ekwueme at Awka, 20 November 2017:

Good Afternoon. I wish to congratulate HE Gov. Willie M. Obiano and his running mate Dr. Nkem Okeke on their victory at the 18 November elections. I wish both of them well.

I salute my other fellow contestants for their valiant efforts and the decorum during the campaigning. Thank you for promoting peace.

Before now, I have expressed concerns about the contradicting variables that led to the electoral outcome. 

In that context, INEC needs to undertake an introspective reappraisal of its in-house processes, more so those relating to its ICT operations. 

Beyond these remarks, I have closed the chapter on this particular election. 

We must now move on and return to the task of promoting good governance and the wellbeing of Anambra people.

I salute my wife and children, my personal and campaign staff, our National and State party leadership, especially the PDP governors for their support. 

God bless them all.

I thank in a very special way former Gov. Peter Obi and hia dear ife Margaret Obi for their unfettered support. 

I also thank my running mate Lady Chidi Onyemelukwe and her husband Okey Onyemelukwe for their joint role, warmth and added value to our efforts.

Finally, and on a sad note, I close by paying tribute to a father figure, my father’s friend, my mentor, and the father of my running mate, Dr. Alex Ifeanyi Ekwueme, who passed last night. 

May his soul find eternal rest; and may his family, friends and Nigeria find the fortitude to bear this huge loss.

Thank you and God bless us. Bless Anambra and Bless Nigeria.

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