The Labour Party (LP) candidate in the just-concluded Anambra State governorship election, Chief George Moghalu, has faulted the outcome of the November 8 poll, saying it does not reflect the genuine will of the people.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Sunday declared Governor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) winner of the election, thereby securing a second term in office.
Reacting to the declaration, Chief Moghalu described the election as “a national embarrassment,” insisting that it fell far short of democratic standards.
He said the process was marred by widespread vote-buying and open financial inducement at polling units, which, according to him, undermined the integrity of the exercise.
“The truth is that the election held on Sunday is not a true reflection of the wishes of Ndi Anambra. There were a few things that happened before and during the election which brought us to where we are today.
“When I heard about the large number of policemen deployed, I felt confident. But the same policemen watched as votes were bought everywhere, it was clear and shameful, ”Moghalu said.
The LP candidate lamented that many polling units across the state were turned into “marketplaces rather than democratic arenas,” adding that “when votes are bought, the future is sold.”
Rejecting the outcome of the election, Moghalu maintained that true victory lies not in the declaration of results, but in the integrity of the process.
He alleged that the election was characterized by “massive vote-buying and shameless financial inducement,” insisting that the results announced by INEC did not reflect the collective will of the people.
Although he declined to state whether he would challenge the result in court, Moghalu said his campaign was never about winning at all costs but about redefining governance and building a new Anambra founded on transparency, accountability, fairness and security.
He further condemned what he termed the failure of institutions to safeguard the sanctity of the ballot, arguing that any system that fails to uphold fairness loses the moral authority to declare winners.
“The conscience of our democracy has been wounded. What we witnessed on November 8 was not the expression of choice, but the triumph of desperation and greed over justice and fairness, ”he added.
