The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for the March 18 governorship election in Enugu State, Chief Frank Nweke Jr., has rejected the poll’s outcome. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Peter Mbah, the winner and governor‑elect.
Speaking at a press conference in Enugu on Friday, Nweke—who previously served as Minister of Information—characterised the governorship and House of Assembly elections as an assault on democracy, insisting they were neither free, fair, nor credible. He alleged that the election was marred by violence, thuggery, intimidation, the exploitation of divisive sentiments, and the weaponisation of poverty against the electorate.
“In Nsukka, voters recorded and reported gunshots at polling units allegedly instigated by a political party,” he said, as quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria. “The most vulnerable and impoverished became prey to vote‑buying by some parties, with as little as N500 or packets of noodles in some places. At Udenu, parties competed for votes with N2,000, a plate of jollof rice, okpa, and a bottle of soda. I feel ashamed that this is what our people are worth to some who seek to lead them.”
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