By  Enyim Enyim

ONITSHA—In a bid to ensure a free and fair governorship election next month, a group under the umbrella of Anambra State Free and Fair Elections Initiative headed by Dr Chris Okoye,  weekend administered oaths on candidates participating in the election.

Chairman of the occasion, Igwe Alfred Achebe said the essence of the oath taking,  known as Igho Ofor in Igbo land,  was to restore sanity in the state,  which had been engulfed in series of political crises.

He said the event was put together to make the candidates swear on oath that the February 6, governorship poll would be devoid of any form of electoral malpractices.

However, not all the candidates especially the major contenders attended the occasion. The state Governor, Mr Peter Obi, who is contesting for a second term on the plat form of APGA and a few others from other political parties were present.

Among those absent at the occasion were Professor Charles Soludo of the PDP, Dr Andy Uba of the Labour Party, Dr Chris Ngige of the Action Congress,  who was represented by his running-mate, Mr Phil Agbasi and Mrs Uche Ekwunife of the PPA.

Administering the no rigging oath on the candidates present, the traditional ruler of Agukwu Nnri, Igwe Eze Onyenso prayed that catastrophe should befall any governorship candidate who indulged in election rigging or any form of electoral fraud.

Investigations by Vanguard showed that some of the frontline governorship candidates deliberately did not attend because they were informed that it was organised by the incumbent Governor, Mr Obi.