The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) has presented certificates of return to the 21 newly elected local government chairmen, their deputies and councilors following the local government elections held on August 29.
The certificates were presented by the Chairman of the commission, Barrister Genevieve Osakwe, at the ANSIEC secretariat in Awka, the state capital.
According to results earlier declared by the commission, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the ruling party in the state, won all 21 chairmanship positions, while the Young Progressives Party (YPP) secured two councillorship seats.
Osakwe said APGA also won the remaining councillorship positions across the state, except for the two seats won by YPP in Ajali and Ndikelionwu wards in Orumba North Local Government Area.
She described the election as free, fair and credible, and commended the electorate, election officials, security agencies, journalists and other stakeholders for contributing to the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
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Osakwe said the commission deployed electoral materials on time and operated a situation room throughout the election to monitor developments across the state.
She said ANSIEC received no report of YPP candidates or their supporters being denied access to electoral materials, adding that its officials arrived in Anambra East Local Government Area as early as 4 a.m. on election day.
The ANSIEC chairman also explained the “Yes or No” voting system used for unopposed mayoral candidates, describing it as a provision under the state’s electoral law.
According to her, Sections 110(a) and (b) of the Anambra Electoral Law require a “Yes or No” vote where a mayoral candidate is unopposed.
She explained that an unopposed candidate must secure more “Yes” votes than “No” votes to be declared elected.
Osakwe said councillors who are the sole candidates in their wards are returned unopposed under Section 109 of the law, while the “Yes or No” procedure applies to unopposed mayoral and deputy mayoral candidates.
“Anambra was the first to practice it. Other states are now calling to ask how we did it,” she said, describing the state as a reference point for the voting system.
She also acknowledged the support of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders in the conduct of the election.
Speaking to journalists after receiving his certificate, the Mayor-elect of Ayamelum Local Government Area, Amb. Mgbechi Igwebuike, thanked the people of the area for their trust and support.
Igwebuike described the certificate of return as a call to greater responsibility, saying his administration would focus on consolidating existing development gains and providing inclusive and people-oriented leadership.
He commended Governor Charles Soludo and pledged to work with relevant stakeholders to advance the development of Ayamelum and improve the welfare of its residents.
Igwebuike said the mandate would be pursued in the interest of the people, while assuring residents of his commitment to effective grassroots administration.
On his part, the newly elected Chairman of Njikoka Local Government Area, Ikechukwu Okeakpu, thanked the people of the area for entrusting him with the mandate to serve and pledged to provide inclusive and purposeful leadership in line with the development agenda of Governor Charles Soludo.
The newly elected local government officials are expected to assume office after their swearing-in by the state governor, Prof. Charles Soludo.
