The Saga Called Anambra State Election, 2013

The story has been ever awful since the just concluded Anambra state gubernatorial election, from every indication, the election seems rigged…

The APC candidate Sen. Chris Ngige foresaw the incidence before it happened, on November 15, he publicly wrote on his facebook page “I keep warning INEC that Prof.Onukogu is not qualified to be the Resident Electoral Commissioner in this election. That man was part of the sham in 2011. Some of the elections he conducted were upturned by the courts while some were cancelled. He has neither demonstrated convincing neutrality nor the capacity to guarantee impartiality. I am warning Prof. Jega about this man. That man must be changed. The rat does not eat the fish of a man who is awake. We are wild awake like a fish in the water. We are ready and willing to resist any Iwu ruwuru in this election.”
He seems to be celebrating his victory even before it came as he further wrote ” The truth is coming out, Ahead of tomorrow’s Anambra State governorship contest, a Premium Times poll has already called the election in favour of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Chris Ngige as the winner of the election. Then online poll still ongoing on the online newspaper website with the caption ‘Who do you think will win Anambra governorship election?”, shows Ngige leading with a wide margin of 78% followed by Willie Obaino of APGA with a distance 12%. Tony Nwoye of PDP did not fare better as he came 8% while the PPA candidate, Godwin Ezeemo managed 2% votes”
His warning about the foreseen rigging of the election seemed not to change what was forthcoming as after the said election, complaints were still trooping in from various citizens and contestants as regards the election, a day after the election, he had this to say “My people, thank you for the overwhelming support you have shown me. I know that you yearn for change and came out en masse to vote for change but was prevented by INEC from voting for the change you desire. This is not the end of it. I will keep you posted.”

Latter that same day, women of the state were reportedly said to be protesting the treachery at INEC office, Awka.
He further posted the CNPP Press statement two days after the election thus “CNPP PRESS STATEMENT - 18 November 2013 RESIGN JEGA! RESIGN JEGA! RESIGN FORTHWITH! Conference of Nigerian Political Parties {CNPP} calls on Professor Attahiru Jega, chairman Independent National Electoral Commission {INEC} to resign forthwith for betraying the Anambra electorate and Nigerians in general by conducting a sham election, in the name of Anambra State Governorship Election. We are making this call on the fact that the eminent Professor Jega from available records bungled the single Anambra State gubernatorial election; and this being the case, what are the guarantee that he will not bungle the 2015 general elections? We were perplexed that up till this Monday morning when the gross irregularity were clearly made public by the Returning Officer, Professor James Okuoke resulting in the declaration of the result as inconclusive and cancellation of 113,113 votes; Professor Jega behaving like a hired hand on a television interview Sunday afternoon had sort to defend INEC and its failed exercise. Jega to our consternation was nervously harping on only 65 Polling Units in Obosi Electoral Ward, even when by his own admission the INEC Electoral Officer whom he claimed had been arrested had messed up the electoral process in the entire Idemili North LGA with 306 Polling Units and total registered voters of about 174,000; claiming that he cannot cancel the total election because of one Electoral Officer’s malfeasance. The first valid question to our eminent professor is, is the 113,113 cancelled votes from only Idemili North, where no election took place and where an postponed election was supposedly conducted at Obosi and later extended to Abatete and Nkpor Ward 2, without official notification? Secondly, is it with good conscience that an election was fixed on a Sunday in a predominantly Christain community? The third valid question to the eminent professor is can we trust the fate of Nigerians in an incapable, inept and compromise hand to conduct the more sensitive and delicate 2015 general elections? In sum, we call for the total cancellation of the Anambra State Governorship Election. In fact the Anambra State Governorship has in no uncertain exposed Professor Jega’s palpable ineptitude, gross incapacity, utter negligence and near compromise in managing elections; therefore Professor Jega should resign forthwith. Mr Osita Okechukwu National Publicity Secretary CNPP”

He further had this to say “The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the announcement by INEC that it will hold a supplementary election after declaring last Saturday’s governorship poll in Anambra inconclusive, insisting that only the total cancellation of the election will be acceptable. In a statement issued in Lagos on Monday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also called on INEC to come clear on how the election was sabotaged. APC accused INEC of not taking seriously the opinions of Anambra residents as well as local and foreign observers that most of the registered voters in the state were disenfranchised during the election. ”First, the electoral commission proposed make-up election in only 65 polling units in Obosi before scaling things up to a supplementary election ‘in those areas where election was cancelled’. But we say, without equivocating, that a total cancellation of the election and the organization of a fresh poll, under the supervision of a credible Resident Electoral Commissioner, will be acceptable to our party,” it said. ”It is not enough for INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to tell the nation that an INEC official sabotaged the election in a certain part of the state, he must tell the nation who this fellow is, who he/she is working for, what is the extent of the damage he/she has done to this and previous elections, and whether or not he/she has access to the commission’s database of voters’ register, which was apparently tampered with for Saturday’s election. ”Prof. Jega must also tell Nigerians why 16 Electoral Commissioners, who migrated to Anambra days before the election ostensibly to supervise things, could not ensure the success of an election in a single state, when even a polling unit behind the INEC office in Awka did not get voting materials till after 9 am on election day,” it said. Meanwhile, the APC has accused the PDP of being an accessory to the election anormaly in Anambra, going by the statement credited to the party that the election was free and fair.”

And finally ten hours ago, he wrote “Fallout of Anambra Guber: I Did Not Rig Alone - Arrested INEC Official A principal actor in the controversial Anambra governorship election of November 16 has reportedly made sterling revelations to his interrogators in Abuja. Mr Okeke Chukwujekwu, the electoral officer in charge of Idemili North local government area of Anambra State, currently in police detention over his role in the electoral saga, was said to have told his police investigators that he was “being used and dumped”. The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, had, in the heat of the controversies generated by the flawed poll, admitted that the “electoral officer” in Idemili North “messed up” and that he would be handed over to the police for prosecution. Chukwujekwu was moved to Abuja on Sunday, just as INEC said it was conducting a probe into the deliberate sabotage of the governorship election. A top official involved in the election confided in LEADERSHIP yesterday that the arrested INEC official had made useful statements even as he was apprehensive that top directors of INEC might be “implicated”. “The way this whole thing is going, it looks as if many heads will roll in INEC because the young man has made useful statements and if what he said is anything to rely upon, it then means that some big names in that commission might fall with him. “At first, he was trying to rationalise his action in that local government area when he was verbally quizzed before the intervention of the police; but, after some time, especially at the point of his detention, he started to cooperate but the cooperation is loaded because he has mentioned some top officials of INEC, especially directors and a PDP chieftain, as those who ‘put him in trouble’. Although the source declined to disclose the identities of those involved, he said “preliminary confessions” point to the fact that the bungled election in most LGAs of the state was “packaged by aggrieved politicians in connivance with top INEC officials both in Abuja and Awka” adding: “It was a well-funded package.” “All fingers point to some aggrieved politicians and it was a well-funded package that involved quite a lot of people; that is why the man is saying he has been used and dumped,” he said. Meanwhile, Jega has said all enquiries regarding arrests made in the bungled Anambra election should be referred to the police. Jega’s chief press secretary, Kayode Idowu, told LEADERSHIP on the telephone that INEC would not comment on the arrested official who allegedly played a key role in the flawed poll. “One, I cannot say anything on his matter because the police has taken over a larger chunk of the matter; only the police can say something on the role of the man arrested and how far they have gone with their investigation; so you have to contact the police. “Again, it will be out of place for me to reel out what the commission intends to do. Mind you, INEC is also carrying out its administrative interrogation on his matter,” he said.”

At the other end, the candidate of APGA, chief Willie Obiano seems to be celebrating even before the election, he had this to say on November 14 “My people, your immense support has earned us victory already. Thank you! In line with the INEC regulations, I am officially winding down my campaign today Thursday 14th. I call on my supporters to end all sorts of campaign today. We will remain law abiding as always. I also call on all my supporters to stay peaceful and vigilant. Endeavor to cast your votes as responsible citizens. Encourage your friends, siblings, parents, spouses, and neighbors to vote for APGA peacefully on Saturday. APGA bu nke anyi. APGA bu nke Ndigbo. Willie.Will.Work=>W.W.W” Twenty hours ago, he wrote “My people, this is another beautiful day and I'm so thankful. Thank you all for your constant support! Thank you also for waiting patiently, it's just a matter of time..... Remember, W.W.W=>”

Some citizens of the state who begged for anonymity has this to say “I sincerely weep for this country. Many of our people can hardly differentiate right from left. If INEC can not conduct credible election in just one state then what will happen during the general election of 2015. And instead of everybody to condemn INEC so that we can have a better Nigeria. To me it doesn’t matter who wins but let INEC provide a level playing ground for The People to choose their leader. If APGA’s man is the person The People want let them have a better platform to elect him not through ‘magomago’. Prof Jega has told the entire world that he’s not the man we thought he was. It is very unfortunate that this is happening in this country and during our time. The most annoying thing is the way our people are hailing the conduct of the election.”

“I dey laugh.Dis is fairest n transparent election. Y didnt INEC cancel dora akunyili n ngige senatorial election?y didnt they cancel Ohakim n okorocha gubernatorial? Haterz! Is it bcos it my Obiano dat is winning now,dat makes u people be agitating for d election abolition? Haterz, go n hug transformer Obiano remains d Anambra state governor till next eight years. We love ngige,but God loves him d most,so he should go n rest in peace in d senate house. From me Frankln Arinze Udenkwelle.” Was there really a free and fair election in Anambra? Either ways, INEC has not yet gained trust of the citizens!

Human rights commission lied against me — Chime’s wife

Wife of the Enugu State Governor, Clara Chime Wife of the Enugu State Governor, Clara Chime Wife of the Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, Clara, has faulted the report of the National Human Rights Commission on her incarceration by her husband. She said the report was set to damage her reputation. This was contained in a letter of complaint she wrote to her lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, which was made available to SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday. The NHRC had on Friday released a preliminary report on its investigations into Clara’s complaints of rights abuse. Speaking on the report, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, said the bone of contention between Chime and his wife was a disagreement over the procedure for the treatment of her occasional hallucinations and depression. However, Clara, in the letter, said, “I am very disappointed to read what has been narrated by the National Human Rights Commission. Apart from the fact that the information was largely false, it showed lack of sensitivity in publishing sensitive medical detail. “This has the effect of tarnishing and damaging my reputation. It is as though the commission set out to ridicule me. I made it clear to them that I had a nervous breakdown and found it inexplicable as to how hallucinations featured as part of my symptoms. “It is important to make this clear, so that the public should be made aware of this and that the Commission should recognise part of her ethos in protecting human dignity. It has been suggested by some quarters that the Commission appears biased already because of the profile of the person whose reputation is at stake. “I want to believe that the Commission would approach my case with open mind and in particular recognise me as a victim of crime. I hope that common sense would prevail and that the Commission should now retract the damaging publication and stop stigmatising me.” The First Lady had in a petition written on her behalf by Falana accused the governor of illegal detention. Following the petition, the NHRC had written Chime, demanding access to his wife. Angwe, however, informed journalists on Friday that a five-man investigative panel from the commission had met with those most concerned with the issue and inspected the said apartment. The NHRC scribe said the panel held private discussions with Chime, the complainant, Clara; the governor’s sibling, Dr. Jide Chime; the First Lady’s physician, Dr. Aham Agumoh; and her elder brother, Tony Igwe. Another person was one Dr. A. Uzegu, a London-based consultant psychiatrist and forensic examiner, who is the doctor preferred by Clara, through teleconference. Angwe confirmed that for the last two weeks, Clara had been confined to her apartment on medical advice for purposes of medical maintenance and security. He further disclosed that the panel learnt that the First Lady was allowed access to her son after his school and lesson hours. While reacting through a statement on Saturday, the Chairman, NHRC, Mr. Chidi Odinkalu, said there was no basis for the claims widely circulated in the media. He said the commission had not made any pronouncement on the state of health, physical or mental, of the complainant (Clara) or any other party in the case. Odinkalu said, “The commission takes seriously its responsibility to fully respect the confidentiality of parties before it and to reach its decisions only on the basis of law and evidence. “I should clarify that the team that the commission sent to Enugu did not include any medical personnel. It had neither a mandate nor the expertise to pronounce on such matters and has clearly not done so. This is evident on the face of the statement by the Executive Secretary. “Allegations also that the commission may have been compromised in the conduct of the case are both factually inaccurate and manifestly unfounded.” The NHRC boss said as a practice, cases and complaints received by the commission were processed in accordance with the National Human Rights Commission Act (as amended) and with the Standing Orders and Rules of Procedure of the Commission.

IS ENUGU STATE GOVT HOUSE A MENTAL HOUSE?

By Tonnie Iredia

The week which ended yesterday no doubt put Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, prominently in the news and once again, it was for the wrong reason. His wife, Clara, made several damaging allegations against him which were publicised by the media. According to the story, the lady’s fundamental human right on basic issues such as freedom of association and of movement had been breached by her husband for longer than she could bear.
She also claimed to have been a victim of forced imprisonment. In his response, Governor Chime insists that whatever actions he has taken have been in the interest of his wife. From the lady’s version of her state of depression and the governor’s diction at a press briefing on the subject, it is apparent that the lady has a peculiar medical challenge.
What is not clear however is why Mrs Clara Chime has to be a patient within the precincts of the Government House – does the place also double as a mental home? Before going into the details of what has been made public so far about the subject, it seems expedient to first dismiss the viewpoint that seeks to describe the matter as a purely matrimonial, private and domestic issue. Of course, the health challenges of an ordinary Nigerian and those of his family are private matters but not so as that of the governor of a state. Governor Chime, his wife and their children are not ordinary people. They are the first family of Enugu State and although their supposed breadwinner has a handsome salary, they are in addition housed and fed by the state ‘free of charge’. Matters concerning them especially those which filter out to the public can thus not be classified as private.

Clara Chime, Sullivan Chime and Mr Femi Falana, SAN

Again, ours is a nation where many first ladies with the active connivance of their spouses appropriate unto themselves, the power to run illegal offices with public funds. For a typical first lady, the rest of us are often shoved off the roads by security agents to let the privileged enjoy monopoly of our collective public space. If one of such special persons cries out against forced imprisonment, it is not just a matter of public interest but one which newsroom operatives in our days would call ‘Level 17 News’! Interestingly, many of our political leaders are not quite proficient at handling pieces of such VIP news. The case of the late President Yar’Adua aside, not many would forget in haste how Presidency officials fed Nigerians with fake news on the health of first lady, Patience Jonathan until she herself publicly explained that she resurrected severally.
The present case of Governor Chime’s wife is particularly curious as the governor is fast gaining popularity as a man who cherishes to shroud in unnecessary secrecy anything he does. For instance, what is called uncommon transformation elsewhere obtains in Enugu without propaganda. Chime’s conservative policy of “silence is golden” is worse in health matters. From September last year till almost 6months later, the whereabouts of Chime himself caused so much public disquiet. He had allegedly gone on what was called ‘extended’ leave- an unspecified long period that generated speculations.
According to the caption of one newspaper, it was “Enugu without Chime: Intrigues without end”. While some lawmakers threatened to move against the governor over his prolonged absence, the conference of opposition parties in the state launched a campaign to rally public support for the governor’s impeachment. The official response from the state government was that the governor was hale and hearty and was merely enjoying a well-deserved vacation. It was only when Governors Amaechi of Rivers, Suswan of Benue and Akpabio of Akwa Ibom visited Chime in London that we all got to know that his absence from Enugu was due to ill-health.
Governor Chime was to confirm later when he surfaced that he had been treating cancer. At that point, the governor was disturbed about the high degree of misinformation on his health which he attributed to mischief makers. He neither appreciated his own contributory negligence nor the rationale that speculations are a logical consequence of lack of information. Hence, during the week of the current controversies on his wife ill-health, the governor again sought to blame mischief makers by recalling that those who said he died earlier in India never knew he did not go that way. Would people have imagined that; if as a public property, he had allowed the public to know where he was?
What is special about a governor having cancer? Does being a governor preclude a man or his family from being human? If not, what then is extraordinary about Clara Chime, the wife of the governor of Enugu State falling ill? Rather than do the necessary, Governor Chime allowed gossips and rumours with their attendant ill-will to flow into his wife’s illness until well-meaning persons and institutions rose up to the occasion.
First, the nation’s most proactive news outfit-channels television, for more than 2 consecutive days in the week, deprecated the dehumanizing stories coming out of Enugu government house without any response. Second, Femi Falana-the ordinary man’s lawyer since after Gani Fawehinmi had to make some constructive noise too. Third, the National Human Rights Commission had to publicly demand access to Clara Chime. These forced the governor to organize a rather poorly rehearsed press briefing where he said something like “na me get my wife; na me know how to treat am”
Whoever told the governor that the health challenge of his wife is one that can derogate from the public image of his high office and as such should be covered up is mean. The same is true of the unprofessional medical option adopted. Even if many people have mental problems in Enugu, Chime cannot justify the establishment of a psychiatric hospital within government house. Accordingly, any such hospital therein for Clara is illogical. Last September, the governor travelled miles away in search of the best treatment for himself when he was down; it is time now for him to also seek for the very best for Clara Chime, the incumbent first lady and mother of Enugu people.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/enugu-govt-house-mental-hospital/#sthash.WPIINkb6.dpuf