Anambra by-election: APC cries foul, claims candidate held hostage

• APC chairman alleged Okwuosa was held hostage at home by Anambra Vigilance Group during the by-election.
• Nicholas Ukachukwu insisted INEC’s declared results were inconsistent with figures still in possession of electoral officers.
• Vigilance group accused of openly carrying arms, intimidating voters, and detaining residents in private cells.

The All Progressives Congress (QPC has dismissed the outcome of the Anambra South senatorial by-election held on Saturday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Emmanuel Nwachukwu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance winner with 90,408 votes.

Azuka Okwuosa of the APC secured 19,847 votes, while Donald Amangbo of the African Democratic Congress came third with 2,889 votes.

APC chairman in Anambra, Basil Ejidike, alleged that Okwuosa was confined to his home by members of the Anambra Vigilance Group.

He further accused a state government official, not from the senatorial district, of leading the security outfit to harass APC candidates in Orsumenyi.

“While he distracted our governorship candidate in Orsumenyi, the Vigilance Group held our senatorial candidate hostage in his home,” Ejidike said.

Nicholas Ukachukwu also raised doubts about the collation process, insisting that results declared by INEC did not tally with figures in possession of electoral officers.

He described the actions of the vigilance group as a “serious violation of the electoral process” and queried why no arrests had been made.

Ukachukwu said APGA’s interference showed the party feared genuine popularity, despite its public claims of dominance in the state.

“They know Anambra is tired of APGA and their government,” he added.

Ukachukwu recalled that security agencies had earlier resolved in a pre-election meeting that the state security outfit would neither participate in the poll nor carry arms.

“Instead, they openly carried guns, arrested people, and detained them in their own cells.

“If it were APC, they would accuse us of using the Police and Army to intimidate them,” Ukachukwu said.

He stressed that the APC would contest the outcome of the by-election, insisting it did not reflect the true will of the people.

Ukachukwu also expressed optimism about the APC’s chances in the forthcoming November 8 governorship election in the state.