Anambra Governor receives INEC's certificate of return after election victory

Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, has received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after his reelection victory during the November 18 gubernatorial election.

The governor, under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), won in all the 21 local government areas of the state with a total of 234,071 votes.

The governor was presented with the certificate by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, at INEC's headquarters in the state capital, Akwa.

After receiving the certificate, the governor said, "I am happy to receive this Certificate of Return which confers on me the power to pilot the affairs of the state for the next four years. I wish to thank Mr President, INEC, security agencies and all those who made the election a success.

"I also wish to thank APGA as a political party for presenting me as its candidate. I shall not disappoint you; I will work harder in the second term than I am doing in the first term."

Dr Orji urged the jubilant governor to live up to expectations and continue to develop the state as he returns for a second term.

He said, "That election was a surprise to many people; some people came here to watch the state burn, to see brothers killing themselves, but we are glad that nothing like that happened.

"Certificate of Return is not a reward, it is a responsibility; how it is used determines how people will vote next time.

"We must work to increase the value of our votes by making sure we vote according to our conscience, because if we allow our votes to be bought, it becomes powerless."

The state's Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke, the governor's wife, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano, APGA party chieftains as well as supporters were present at the ceremony.