By 
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in last Saturday’s Anambra State election, Mr. John Nwosu, has rejected the outcome of the poll, alleging that the process was marred by widespread vote-buying and irregularities.
Speaking on the outcome of the election, Nwosu claimed that the election that returned Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for a second term was “neither free nor fair,” insisting that the victory was bought with cash inducements.
“The election wasn’t fair; it was a business of vote-buying. I was physically there in my ward where I saw people collecting money before voting,” he alleged. “One of the former treasurers of APGA was seen holding a notebook where voters wrote their names before going into a house to collect money. 99% of the people that voted APGA and APC and other parties collected money ranging from 3,000 naira to N20,000.”
Nwosu accused both the APGA and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of engaging in the illicit practice, claiming that some of their supporters were caught with over ₦70 million allegedly earmarked for vote-buying and other inducements.
“The security agencies apprehended supporters of APGA and APC with huge sums of money and bags of rice. These people should be prosecuted,” he said.
While rejecting the official results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ADC candidate questioned the figures announced from several local governments, including his own, stating that they did not reflect the true votes cast.
He also dismissed claims that he was criticising the process because he left APGA, reiterating that his concern was about integrity and democratic values.
“I left APGA because there was no internal democracy. I have maintained my integrity throughout this election. I had the resources to buy votes, but I refused because it is against my conscience. I am an entrepreneur and a Catholic; I cannot trade my values for political power,” Nwosu explained.
Nwosu advised the government to not overlook electoral offenders. “And my advice to the federal government and all the government agencies that are entrusted with the election is for them to stop sweeping the effect of vote buying under the carpet.”.
Nwosu maintained that his political ambition was not a “do-or-die” affair, he also said he is willing to work with anybody for the good of the state.
“Well, you see, the state is supreme. But what is important to me is the process through which a leader emerges. I can always work with anybody for the progress of my state.
“My ambition is not do or die, you know, because I have a job, I’m not a business politician, but I am an ICT entrepreneur. I have a business, I have a source of living.
Nwosu also stressed that his party was reviewing the process of the election following which he will announce either to head to court or not.
Recall that Professor Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was declared winner of the November 8 Anambra State governorship election, securing a second term that will run until 2030.
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