By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
The echoes of the rescheduled March 18th State House of Assembly election in Anambra state is yet to die down as a village Farmer and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Abuchi Bernard Udemezue, defeated Athw Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Uchenna Okafor of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to emerge winner of the Saturday polls for the Ayamelum State Constituency.
Similarly, Deputy Majority Leader of Anambra State House of Assembly and candidate of APGA for Orumba North, Hon Emeka Aforka has lost his second term bid to Labour Party (LP) Candidate, Paul Obu.
Obu secured 10,212 votes against Aforka’s 7,675 votes.
Speaker Uchenna Okafor contested for the AYANELUM constituency seat for the third term and lost.
The INEC Returning Officer for the election , Prof George Onwudiwe, who declared results of the election in the area said PDP polled 12,993 votes to defeat Okafor of APGA who garnered 11,445 and others.
It was learnt that the outgoing Speaker allegedly flouted zoning arrangement by stakeholders of the state constituency.
A resident of the area, Chiweta Johnson told newsmen that, ”This serves politicians right. Before the election, we told the speaker not to vie again because it’s not the turn of his area to do so.”
According to him, “We have a standing agreement of zoning arrangement on this matter. The speaker didn’t listen to us, maybe because of his enormous wealth or connection to the government. So, he tried his luck and our people taught him a lesson he won’t forget in a hurry.”
“The people just voted for a local farmer here because it’s the turn of his quarter to represent Ayamelum in the state house of assembly. The quarter will do two terms and the slot will move to another zone, which all us already know, because of our longstanding agreement.
The member representing Awka North and candidate of PDP, Hon. John Nwokoye, lost out to a first timer and candidate of APGA, Hon. Chimezie Ikwunne.
The results as announced by the INEC Returning Officer (RO) for the constituency, Dr Martina Egenti, showed that Ikwunne scored 7,199 votes to defeat Nwokoye who got 6, 110.
Also, the Labour Party Candidate for Anaocha constituency 1, Ms Nkechi Ogbuefi, defeated an incumbent member and candidate of PDP, Ebele Ejimofor, who contested for third term seat.
