Dare Babalola
The Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the just-concluded Anambra State governorship election, Jude Ezenwafor, has accepted the result of the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) which declared Governor Chukwuma Soludo the winner.
In an interview on Channels Television on Monday, the PDP chieftain pledged to work alongside Governor Soludo to advance the development of the state.
“I can assist him. I have been assisting him before; he is my friend. I brought him to work in Anambra,” he said.
Speaking further, Ezenwafor disclosed that he encouraged Soludo to contest the governorship while serving as Senior Special Assistant to former Governor Willie Obiano.
“I convinced Soludo to contest the election in the first instance when I was Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano. He came, he did well, and there is no perfect person,” Ezenwafor added.
While acknowledging criticisms regarding security in the state, the PDP candidate commended Soludo and his team for being proactive.
He advised the governor to prioritise inclusivity and strengthen security operations.
“Soludo and his security team are working. We have competent security chiefs in Anambra. I will advise His Excellency, Governor Soludo: What they need is better equipment, and insecurity will end. I believe he will do more.
“I have called to congratulate him, but if he doesn’t do well, I will speak. I will advise Governor Chukwuma Soludo to run an inclusive government so that Anambra will be very safe and prosperous,” Ezenwafor said.
Addressing allegations of vote-buying during the election, Ezenwafor described the claims as exaggerated.
“That’s their opinion. I intend to challenge in court whether vote-buying is not election rigging. Almost five political parties engaged in vote-buying. If you remove the five, you will find me. I did not buy votes.
“Even my party agents were taken by the state executives to work for another party. But Anambra people have spoken; we will allow Governor Soludo to finish his four years,” he stated.
Ezenwafor also dismissed claims that he ran as a placeholder, attributing his electoral performance partly to an alleged assassination attempt.
“If you say something like that, it doesn’t matter. Nobody will throw away over ₦80 million to clinch a party ticket just to be a figurehead. Am I stupid? I had the intention to run.
“I have my Organic Millionaires Club, 100 people who promised me 10 votes each. I was already cruising at 326,000 votes, but these people messed me up. I’m not desperate or feeling bad. I thank God I’m alive. I even suspect they were the ones that shot me,” he said.
Reflecting on his efforts to revive the PDP in the state, Ezenwafor added, “The PDP was in a comatose state when I came in. I decided to run, but I was shocked when there was an attempt on my life. I was hospitalised for almost three months.”
