…Says Soludo, Ozigbo, most credible candidates
By Emma Ogbuehi
The rising spate of violence and accompanying killings in Anambra, are essentially orchestrated to frighten voters so as to declare a state of emergency in the state. These were the declarations of an elder statesman and former governor of the state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, at Arise Breakfast Morning Show, on Monday. Of late, there have been cases of heightened insecurity in the state, manifested in killings and destruction of properties by gunmen.
Not even the massive security build-up ahead the poll, was enough to convince the former governor, that there is no sinister motive by mischievous elements against the exercise. “It is not enough to pack the police or army into the state. The question is, are they honest to themselves? They may be sent there to rig”, he said. Ezeife added that the important thing is for the people to be committed in ensuring that there is no vote manipulation.
The former governor however argued that despite the ploy by those plotting to truncate the exercise, the November 6 governorship election in the state cannot be rigged. He described the Anambra election as a test case for the 2023 general election, asking the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to ensure a level-playing ground for all the actors.
Ezeife ranked the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) flag bearer, Prof Chales Soludo and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Valentine Ozigbo, as the most credible candidates for the election.