The August 29, 2026 local government election in Anambra state has been marred by low turn out of voters, violence and other form of alleged electoral malpractices.
WITHIN NIGERIA findings showed that the election was also punctuated by gunshots in some parts of the state.
It was gathered that the only party that challenged the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the election was YPP, in only one council area, Anambra East LGA.
The other political parties like the All Progressives Congress (APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Labour Party (LP), all withdrew from the election ‘ab initio ‘.
For this reason, hundreds of thousands of Anambra voters shunned the election and went about their normal duties.
Ejike Nwankwo is a resident of Oko, Orumba North local government area of the state. He told our reporter in a telephone chat that ” how do you expect me to come out and vote when there is no opposition in the election. If I come out or didn’t come out, the result will definitely be the same. So, there is no need for me to stress myself over nothing.
” I know what I spend in going to my polling unit which I cannot afford or spend for result of an election that is obvious.”
Janeth Eze is also a resident of Ogidi in Idemili North local government area. According to her in a telephone chat with our reporter, ” I didn’t go to any place. I opened my provision shop. How can I waste my time and money to go to my polling unit when I know very well that the election has been decided already. It is not acceptable by me.”
According to Mrs. Eze, ” the joy of any election is when you know that there is an opposition to the ruling party. It will make them to sit up and put their house in order. But this one that there is no opposition, this is not an election at all.”
When WITHIN NIGERIA put a call across resident of Otuocha in Anambra East LGA, the only place APGA was being challenged by YPP, it was gathered that it was gathered that there has been shooting galore as the crowd ran for safety at the local government Secretariat.
According to the resident who preferred anonymity, “the entire arena was barricaded by security operatives, especially the local outfit, ‘Agunnechemba’ and Operation Udo Ga Achi, in over 25 Sienna vehicles, fully armed.”
Narrating further the source said that “during the shooting that ensued, one female member of the YPP, simply identified as Ijeoma, was shot and quickly rushed to the local hospital in the area.
“Also during the process, election materials, including results sheets, were taken away by thugs.”
Our findings showed that the local government chairman, who was seeking to be returned, Ifeanyi Chinweze, could not be reached as his phone was not reachable, but YPP collation agent for Anambra East, Charles Ifediora, told reporters that his Party had withdrawn from what he described as a charade.
Mr. Ifediora however, alleged it was the same scenario at Nando Ward 3 where security operatives were shooting non-stop to allow thugs to cart away election materials.
Anambra East LGA has 15 Wards with 241 polling Units.
Ifediora further alleged that none of his party’s agents was allowed to carry out their duties, adding that several gunshots were heard in the area.
He said, “The situation is appalling. The election was scheduled to take place today, and when our people assembled as planned, none of my agents was allowed.
“There were several gunshots and one of our party members, a lady, was shot and taken to the hospital.”
In the meantime, an official of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) official, who did not want to be mentioned, denied election materials being hijacked by anyone.
The source said YPP should channel its grievances to the electoral office.
ANSIEC declared the results of the election
On Sunday, Chairman of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), Mrs Chinelo Genevieve Osakwe, has declared that All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA has won in council election in all the 21 local government areas of the state.
Mrs Osakwe made the declaration during a press conference held on Sunday at the commission’s headquarters in Awka, the state capital.
Additionally, Osakwe disclosed that APGA scored a total of 50,169 votes to defeat the Young Progressives Party (YPP), which polled 1,658 votes in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.
She commended APGA and YPP for their spirit of sportsmanship during the exercise, describing the election as free, fair and credible, as well as being conducted in line with the guidelines and laws establishing the commission in the state..
According to her, APGA won in 20 LGAs through a “Yes or No” voting pattern, having produced sole candidates, while in Anambra East, APGA polled 50,169 votes to defeat YPP, which scored 1,658 votes.
Osakwe said, “I hereby declare the APGA candidates winners after polling the majority of votes for all the positions.
“I reaffirm the declaration of councillorship results already declared at the local government levels and append the commission’s approval to the outcome of the elections,” she stated.
The ANSIEC chairman congratulated the winners and urged them to serve with a high sense of responsibility.
But the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, Tochukwu Ikenga, could not be reached too, but one of the senior police officers who spoke with our reporter in confidence denied the shooting.
