We rigged 2007 election, says Sen Obiora

Details: Category: Politics; Published on Friday, 07 January 2011 06:55; Written by Vanguard; Hits: 1344

SENATOR Ikechukwu Obiora, representing Anambra South in the senate, admitted yesterday in Awka that the primaries that enabled all the legislators from the state to stand for election into the various legislative houses in 2007 was rigged.

According to him, it is one of the reasons many of them decided to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, where internal democracy can be guaranteed.

Speaking at the ACN state secretariat in Awka after he and four other members of the national assembly declared for the party, Obiora said they left PDP because they were tired of getting involved in the rigging of elections.

“I did not see any ballot paper before becoming a senator. The ideal thing is that people should be voted for during elections. In 2007, there was no election and that was why I did not worry when my election was nullified and I had to go for a rerun which was when I faced the real contest and I won. It was after that rerun that I started talking boldly in the senate because I was really elected by the people.

“The issue in the 2011 election is the votes must count and that is why it gives me confidence to contest,” he said.

According to him, there is no denying the fact that the leader of ACN in Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige, is an experienced and very popular politician. He added that he had needed experienced and financial capability people to support him.

He informed members of the party that they were not joining to usurp their positions or to struggle for structure, but to help strengthen the party so that it could win all elections this year.

Other people who declared for ACN yesterday included Chief Cyril Maduabum, Chief Ralph Okeke, Chief Vitalis Okafor and Chief Charles Odedo, all members of the House of Representatives who were elected on the platform of PDP.

Meanwhile, the primaries for the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, were still going on as at 5.00 pm. Among those vying for the tickets include former Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, Professor Nwangwu, Chief Emma Nweke, Chief Ozodinobi, who all vied for Anambra central ticket, as well as Senator Joy Emodi who is hoping to get the ticket for Anambra North.