The mystery deepened yesterday over Monday night’s declaration of ex-Anambra State Governor Chris Ngige as the senator-elect of Anambra Central.

While Ngige received congratulatory messages from far and wide, including from Senate President David Mark and Action Congress of Nigeria (AC N) national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, described as illegal, Ngige’s declaration as winner of the election.

Onukaogu, who spoke on the telephone with our correspondent yesterday said, Returning officer Dr. Alex Anene, who announced Ngige’s victory should be arrested because he was no longer in charge as at the time he made the announcement.

He said a new returning officer, Prof. Charles Asimonye, had already been appointed and that the position of the newly appointed returning officer that elections in cancelled wards should be rerun, should stand.

Anene went underground after announcing that he was under pressure from certain quarters to declare Ngige’s main opponent Prof. Dora Akunyili of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), winner of the election.

He said his life was under threat after rejecting an offer of N10million, a car and a house from APGA.

He reappeared on Monday night to announce Ngige as winner.

But Akunyili and her party yesterday denied this claim. They accused Ngige of desperation to win.

Anambra residents were singing and dancing in celebration yesterday in response to the declaration of Ngige as winner of the controversial election.

Ngige was welcomed by a tumultuous crowd who lined the streets in the route from his hometown, Alor, where supporters besieged him. He was unable to disembark from his car for two hours. He travelled through Abatete, Abagana, Amawbia and Awka, where he addressed his supporters.

Ngige unfolded plans to set up a transition committee to put together details of implementation of his programmes for them in the senate.

He received a plethora of high-profile congratulatory messages

In an early morning telephone congratulation, Senate President Mark said: ‘There is no doubt that you are a material for the senate and I do not need too many words to say that Nigeria has gained by your election.’

Former Senate President Ken Nnamani said: “Anambra could not have made a better choice, given the number of key issues awaiting attention in their collective survival”

Tinubu challenged Ngige to represent the senatorial constituency in a manner reminiscent of his stewardship as governor of Anambra state, “which is the basis for the love that the people have for you and the source of this victory.”

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Chukwuma Soludo said: “This is what Anambra state needs now. They do not as a people need anyone to appoint or impose a senator on them, neither do they need a governor who will lord it over others in a free Anambra.”

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola wished Dr Ngige well and prayed God to give him good health to contribute well to the deliberations in the senate using the ACN manifesto as a platform. Fashola urged Ngige not to despair about the rough road to his victory because it takes a while for the truth to triumph.

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