The candidate of the Young Progressive Party in the November 6 Governorship Election in Anambra State, Ifeanyi Ubah, says he has no intention to challenge the results of the poll in court.
Ubah, who currently represents Anambra South Senatorial District, said he has phoned the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chukwuma Soludo, to congratulate him on his declaration as the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Ubah, Soludo
INEC on Wednesday declared Soludo as the winner after the ex-governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria cleared 19 of the 21 local government areas with a total of 112,229 votes beating Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 53,807 votes, and Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress who got 43,285 votes. Ubah of the Young Progressive Party polled 21,261 votes to come fourth. Both Ubah and Ozigbo won a local government area each.
In a statement after the declaration of Soludo as the winner of the keenly contested poll, Ubah said appreciated his supporters and said he submitted to the will of God.
The statement was titled, ‘Senator Ifeanyi Ubah Congratulates Prof. Charles Soludo On His Electoral Victory.’
“I have just called the newly elected Governor of our dear State; Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo to congratulate him on his victory at the just-concluded November 6, 2021 Anambra Governorship poll.
“To everything there is a season, so the Holy Bible says. It is with a heart full of gratitude and submission to the will of God that I address you all today having enjoyed the unique privilege of earning your support to seek the Governorship office of our dear State Anambra,” the lawmaker said.
Ubah, however, said that the outcome was not desirable but he won’t be going to court to challenge the results declared by INEC.
“This is not the outcome that we wanted and worked so hard for. Although some people have expressed mixed feelings and reactions about the anomalies witnessed across numerous polling units.
“However, the collective interest of the state must be our paramount focus. Not minding the outcome of the elections, I feel pride and gratitude for this formidable campaign that we waged irrespective of the pervasive security crisis that did not allow us to maximize our full campaign potentials in the nooks and crannies of the State.
“As a Democrat and law-abiding citizen, I wholeheartedly accept outcome of the election and would like to use this medium to congratulate Prof. Charles Soludo on his victory. It is imperative to state that I do not intend to challenge the electoral results as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission through any court or judicial process,” he said.
The YPP candidate urged “fellow contestants to move on and thread this same path of honour.”
Ubah advised Soludo to “conduct Local Government elections and grant full financial autonomy to our LGAs in order for them to bring dividends of democracy to the grassroots,” promote industrialisation and work in harmony with members of the National Assembly in the state.
PUNCH