ANSIEC Issues Certificate of Return to 21 Council-Chairmen Elect as APGA Consolidates Power at Grassroots

By Praise Chinecherem

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has further consolidated its dominance at the grassroots in Anambra State as the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) issued Certificates of Return to the 21 Chairmen-elect who emerged victorious in last Saturday’s local government election.

The electoral commission also presented Certificates of Return to the Deputy Chairmen-elect and councillors elected across the 326 wards in the state.

The presentation ceremony was held on Tuesday at the ANSIEC Secretariat in Awka.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of ANSIEC, Mrs Genevieve Osakwe, described the election as free, fair and credible.

She commended Anambra residents for turning out to exercise their franchise and expressed appreciation to security agencies for helping to maintain a peaceful atmosphere throughout the election.

Despite APGA’s sweeping victory across the 21 local government areas, Osakwe disclosed that the Young Progressives Party (YPP) secured two councillorship seats.

According to her, the YPP won the councillorship elections in Ajali and Ndikelionwu wards in Orumba North Local Government Area.

Speaking with journalists after receiving his Certificate of Return, the Chairman-elect for Onitsha South Local Government Area, Chukwuemerie Ibekwe, described his emergence as the beginning of a new chapter for the council area.

“My emergence will signal a new dawn in Onitsha South,” Ibekwe said.

He pledged to pursue his eight-point agenda as contained in his manifesto, assuring residents of purposeful and people-oriented leadership.

Also speaking, the Chairman-elect for Njikoka Local Government Area, Dr Ikechukwu Okeakpu, thanked the people of the area for entrusting him with the mandate to serve.

“I appreciate the people of Njikoka for finding me worthy to serve them,” Okeakpu said, pledging to work in line with the development vision of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

The issuance of the Certificates of Return formally confirms the election of the new local government officials and further strengthens APGA’s political control across Anambra’s grassroots structure.

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