CNPP Urges Aggrieved Politicians to Take Petitions to Tribunal

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday urged aggrieved politicians in the 2015 General Elections to take their petitions and appeals to the electoral tribunal.

The Chairperson of CNPP, Anambra Chapter, Mrs Kate Okafor, said this to newsmen in Akili-Ozizor near Onitsha, Anambra when she led her members to pay a courtesy call on the senator-elect of Anambra North Senatorial Zone, Princess Stella Oduah.

Okafor noted that there was no need for any individual to take the law into his or her hand since there was competent court of electoral jurisdiction, the tribunal, to listen to their complaint and found a way to redress them.

``In politics, if you are aggrieved, you are free to go to the electoral tribunal.

``But that might not be for the senator-elect, Princess Stella Oduah, because she won fairly and squarely,’’ she said.

Okafor, who is also the chairperson of the Advanced Congress of Democrats, promised to work with Oduah to achieve most, if not all; she pledged to do for the people of Anambra North.

``We are also willing to go with her wherever she goes to make her tenure a memorable one,’’ she said.

According to the chairperson, Oduah is tested, resolute and a known achiever; someone liked and loved by many, hence the masses gave her massive support at the polls for the first time; why should we resist working with her?

`` Above all, her antecedents speak volume about her.”

Responding, Oduah, who is a former Minister of Aviation, thanked the CNPP for the solidarity visit and assured them that she would work to move the zone and entire state forward.

``There is a lot of work to be done in order to alleviate our people from poverty, lack and neglect that I have seen and felt first hand.

``We must work together for the betterment of our people and CNPP active partnership with my campaign organisation would make a whole lot of difference to the welfare and wellbeing of our people,’’ Oduah said.

ODUAH WINS ANAMBRA NORTH SENATORIAL ZONE WITH LANDSLIDE

The PDP candidate for Anambra North Senatorial Zone, Princess Stella Oduah, has won the Anambra North Senatorial seat with a landslide victory, as declared in the early hours of Sunday 29th March 2015 Oduah polled 143, 178 votes to win; while Chief Dubem Obaze of APGA got 70,906 votes to come second in the race.Chief Ralph Okeke of the APC got 6,891 votes to come a distant third in the race.

Oduah beat her closet rival with a margin of 72,272 votes, where a total of 230, 498 votes was cast; and a total of 7,784 votes got rejected.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer for the zone, Mr. Celestine Sunday Okaro, who declared Oduah the winner at the Onitsha North Local Government Council Secretariat, said that Oduah stands returned as the Senator of the zone.

``By the powers conferred on me by the INEC Act as amended, I hereby declare Princess Stella Oduah of the PDP with 143,178 votes the winner; having scored the highest votes, returned.

``I would like to thank the party agents, security personnel, the media men and INEC officers for their co-operation, patient and comportment while this exercise lasted,’’ Okaro said.

Princess Oduah recorded about 62% victory over her opponents, winning in five out of the seven local governments of the zone, while her closet rival, Chief Dubem Obaze scored 31%.

She pulled 9,782 votes in Ayamelum to APGA’s 15,292 votes; in Onitsha North, she recorded a whopping 43,237 votes to APGA’s 8,860 votes. The Princess also proved a power house she is as she took Onitsha South as well, registering 25,875 to Dubem’s 10,110 votes.

In Oyi, she still kept the pace with 12,301, while APGA came close at 10, 682 votes. Anambra West also kept faith with the lady as she garnered 9,007 votes to Dubem’s 5,863. But Anambra East rebelled by giving her 8,871, while Dubem coasted home with 12,342 votes. But Ogbaru, her home Local Government gave her befitting last lap victory with 34,388 votes to Dubem’s 7, 747.

In another development, Chukwuka Onyema, popularly known as Ochendo, from Ogbaru Federal Constituency won the election with 30,004 votes to defeat Chinwe Nwaebili, the Speaker, Anambra State of House of Assembly, who got 10,737. Onyema is returning to the House after a first outing in 2007.

The Onitsha North and South Federal Constituencies relieved Chief Cy Egwuatu of his responsibility by transferring such to Chief Goodwin Idu Emeka, who got 48,754 votes to beat Anthonia Tabansi of APGA who got 21,622 votes.

Phil Balepo

Head Media

Princess Stella Oduah Campaign Organisation (PSOCO)