BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA-DR. Chris Ngige of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, who was declared winner for the Anambra Central senatorial zone yesterday, has said that his victory was for the people of Anambra State, commending them for standing firm in the course of justice.

Ngige, who spoke shortly after he was declared winner by the returning officer for the zone, Professor Charles Esimone, defeated the candidate of All Progressives Grand Aliance, APGA, Professor Dora Akunyili by 69, 765 votes against Akunyili’s 69,292.

He said he was sure that he won the earlier election, but had to obey the directive of INEC in the interest of democracy.

Before the rerun, Akunyili was leading Ngige with about 690 votes and the tide turned against her during the repeat exercise.

During the rerun, Ngige won in all the polling units at Enugwu Ukwu, Obosi, Umuoji and Umunachi, while Akunyili won at Nimo and Nri wards.

Meanwhile, the state chairman of APGA, Mr. Mike Kwentoh, has said that the party was studying the outcome of the entire election critically, with a view to deciding on the next line of action.

Addressing newsmen at the party’s secretariat in Awka, Kwentoh, however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the improvement recorded in this year’s general election, adding that whatever were the shortcomings were as a result of the participants and their agents in the election.