I Won't Congratulate Ngige - Akunyili

Source: THEWILL. - thewillnigeria.com
PROFESSOR DORA AKUNYILI.
PROFESSOR DORA AKUNYILI.

AWKA, April 28, (THEWILL) - Professor Dora Akunyili, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Tuesday’s Senatorial election rerun in Anambra Central Senatorial Zone, has ruled out the possibility of congratulating her conqueror in the race, Dr. Chris Ngige, saying his victory was achieved through fraud and criminality.

Akunyili, who spoke to journalists inside her Agulu home, said the re-run, which saw her losing marginally to Ngige of the Action Congress of Nigeria, said the race was fraught with violence, intimidation and rigging, which disenfranchised many eligible voters.

“If Ngige had won a free and fair contest without rigging, without intimidation and without violence, I would have congratulated him yesterday night and not even this morning. I feel pained by what happened yesterday not because I was not declared winner, but because of the level of violence and intimidation that took place,” the former Minister of Information stated.

Akunyili further said she informed the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi (APGA) of Ngige’s antics but Obi said he would rather not escalate the violence.

“The governor told me that he had the capacity to match force with force, but that he would not do so because it would lead to bloodshed," she said.

Akunyili said she wouldmtake some time off to spend time with her family before she consults with her party on the next line of action.

She commended the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, for his determined efforts to run a credible electoral system.