Date Published: 02/09/10

Dear Editor,

Obi wins: PDP should be the last to protest

Even with the 2billion Naira, which was raised for Professor Soludo’s campaign, I knew that the anti-party pronouncements by some members of the PDP would have contributed largely to his losing the just concluded Anambra gubernatorial election. From the result that concluded the result, Soludo came third, behind Mr. Peter Obi of APGA and Dr. Chris Ngige of AC.

Soludo’s problems started with the polarization within the Anambra PDP itself, which left it with fractured support, witnessing disillusioned members opting to contest on other parties’ platforms with some others in perpetual suits in the law court. But what nailed Soludo’s chances was the anti-party comments posted in the media by some PDP members favouring Governor Peter Obi. These came from notable PDP personalities like the Akwa Ibom governor Chief (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio, Chief Don Etiebet and Senator Annie Okonkwo, to mention but few.

Though, that Mr. Peter Obi has been declared winner does not mean that his other competitors would not challenge this in the electoral tribunal; more so when it was recorded that only about 16% of registered voters were able to cast their votes. The disenfranchised 84% voters would not fold their arms and watch how the mandate was ‘stolen’ due not their own fault. The result would further be challenged because there was a court judgment that proved INEC was not competent to conduct the election.  Nevertheless, the protests would have been fiercer had Soludo been declared the winner.    

Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, 80 Omoba Road, ABA, Abia State.