The result of voting in 65 units of Obosi Ward 7, Idemmili North LGA, which has been rescheduled for this morning, may not necessarily swing victory in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Senator Chris Ngige, in the Anambra governorship election, according to indications.

As reported last night by News Express, the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and its candidate, Chief Willie Obiano, had already won 13 of the 21 local governments as at 11pm.

Commenting on speculations that the result of the rescheduled ballot might swing victory the other way, Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chairman of Intersociety Nigeria, ne of the groups monitoring the election, said this morning in a Facebook update entitled “Important fact about the re-scheduled poll in the 65 units in Obosi Ward 7”:

“It is not true that the area is APC’s stronghold. Though it falls under Idemmili North LGA, the LGA origin of Mr. Ngige and his APC, but most residences of the area are dominated by urban residents, most of them are non Anambra citizens. Areas like Awada, Ugwuagba, Odume Layout, Owelle Aja and parts of Nkpor urban like Enekwasumkpu, Omagba 1 & 2, are politically neutral. The real catchment areas for APC are Obosi, Nkpor and Ogidi rural areas. Once INEC ensures that fake voters are not imported and adheres to strict accreditation based on names contained in the voters’ list, the poll outcome can go either way. Security should be beefed up or tightened to ensure that voters are not intimidated and induced.”

Asked for further details, Umeagbalasi told News Express: “Though the area has about 179,000 registered voters, but turnout may be lower because some people’s burning desire to vote yesterday may have dwindled. Besides, some voters may say ‘since APGA is heading to victory, let us not waste our votes on another party.’ ”

Umeagbalasi may not be wrong in his analysis, as News Express found that some people in Obosi are already mobilising for Obiano. For instance, writing on his Facebook wall this morning from Obosi, an opinion leader, Chiedu Uche Okoye, said: “Dr. Willie Obiano is coasting to victory in the Anambra Governorship election. He is not tainted by past misdeeds and corruption. More so, he has administrative competence.

“So, I urge all my friends living in Idemili North to go out to polling units and cast their votes for Dr Willie Obiano, Akpokudike Oku.

“Election didn’t take place yesterday owing to the late arrival of electoral materials.”

•Photo shows Ngige voting in yesterday’s election.

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