By  Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

ABUJA—The Chairman of the  Independent National Electoral  Commission, INEC, Prof. Maurice Iwu, yesterday dismissed insinuations that he is working towards ensuring that Dr. Andy Uba wins the gubernatorial election of Anambra State, slated for February 6.

Fielding questions from senior journalists at a parley in Abuja, he said he is not in a position to help any candidate in what arguably will be one of the most contested governorship elections in the country in recent times.

His words: “On the issue of favourite candidate, they have shifted so much.  At the beginning of the exercise, I was told that my favourite candidate was a lady, Mrs Ekwunife, and you know, once you link a man with a woman, it is difficult to …., (general laughter.)  When I first met the woman, I said ‘no wonder they said you must have charmed me to favour you.’

“It didn’t last long.  Then they said I was working for (Prof. Chukwuman) Soludo; how Soludo was my student at Nsukka.  Not long after that, they burst that and said that actually I was angry with Soludo because he cheated me in a business deal.

“Andy Uba’s own is very recent, because at that time he was not a candidate.  There was also the story that I was working for Ukachukwu who was said to have given me N1 billion and that he was just waiting to be declared.
After Ukachukwu, they now said I was decided on Okey Nwosu and that all the others were wasting their time.

“The one of Peter Obi was when it was explained to journalists why we didn’t want to confuse the candidature with the leadership tussle in APGA.  We thought it was morally unjustifiable that somebody should suffer for other people.  What we did was to de-link the two.   Andy Uba’s own is the one that is amusing.  I think Andy himself should be more amused by this particular story.”

According to the chairman, many people have a mindset, on the issue, just like many others issues and that even when the reality on ground points to the contrary, they stick to their positions.