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#AnambraDecides: Why People Didn’t Vote For UPP – Chidoka

Candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Mr Osita Chidoka, has revealed why the people of Anambra refused to vote for his party in the … Continue reading #AnambraDecides: Why People Didn’t Vote For UPP – Chidoka


Anambra Debate: 10 Top Quotes From Osita Chidoka
Anambra Debate: 10 Top Quotes From Osita Chidoka
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Candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Mr Osita Chidoka, has revealed why the people of Anambra refused to vote for his party in the just concluded governorship election in the state.

In a declaration issued on Sunday, a day after the poll took place, Chidoka attributed his party’s defeat to the distrust the people have for politicians.

“From the ballots, we heard the voice of our people – we heard it loud and clear,” he said. “On November 18, our people announced strongly their rejection of politicians.”

“They traded their votes because they doubted we would truly represent their interest. While our message resonated with the people, they doubted that the political class cared about them; they voted for the highest bidder,” he added.

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Chidoka, a former minister of aviation and former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, said some people demanded money to vote for him.

He, however, said his party declined to grant such request, adding that UPP’s agenda was to promote justice and equity in Anambra and Nigeria in general.

“When by Thursday, November 16, a large percentage of our supporters insisted that they will not vote unless we paid, I insisted we will not pay for votes. The decision not to pay ended our good run – we accept the voters’ decision. We also heard our people, by their turnout and transactional approach, as they took sides with our party’s considered view that the issue of justice, equity and fairness should be canvassed within Nigeria,” he said.

“In all, we hold our heads high – high because we did not lose the poll due to paucity of ideas or lack of “structure”; we lost to superior financial firepower. As democrats, we concede to the voters’ choices. The true hallmark of democracy is the respect for the voice of the ballot as that of the majority.”

The former minister further said his party won at the most important place; in the hearts of people who saw the sincerity of their mission and gave all in support of the quest for collective good.

He also thanked party faithful for their support and personal sacrifices to the campaign, saying the poll was a referendum on the future of the state.

He said: “An important issue has come out of this election; this election represented a referendum on our future. No matter the number that came out to vote, they have made the choice and we do hope that the future we all envisioned for our children and us has not been mortgaged by their action.

“We, therefore, make no apologies for our decision to refrain from money politics and chart a new course for a clean, knowledge-based campaign driven by patriotism. We make no apologies for our campaign philosophies and our positions on momentous issues that directly affect our people; we are proud to have spoken for them.”