New York, May 14, 2007—Her Excellency Dame Virgy Etiaba, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate for Anambra State in the April 14, 2007 election had gone to tribunal to challenge the conduct and result of the botched election.

Her Excellency, Dame Virgy Etiaba (Popularly called, “Mama Anambra”)

In a 135 page petition filed on her behalf at Governorship/House of Assembly Election Tribunal, Awka, on Monday May 14, 2007 by Chief Olisaeloka Osigwe and Mr. Emeka Etiaba leading 15 other lawyers, Mrs. Etiaba is requesting the tribunal to declare that there was no election in Anambra State on April 14, 2007 and to order INEC to conduct a fresh, orderly, free and fair election for Governorship and House of Assembly in Anambra State.

In overwhelming show of support and solidarity, the members of the State executive council of the party, chairmen of the party in 21 local government areas, the candidates for the State House of Assembly and other top dignitaries physically accompanied Her Excellency popularly called ‘Mama Anambra’ to the Election Tribunal for the filing.

Mrs. Etiaba is challenging the result despite frustration, intimidation and campaign of calumny her opponents are waging against her. However, she remains undaunted stating that she will go to any length as “Mama Anambra” to ensure that the collective wish of Anambra people is respected and upheld.

Though Nigerian government officials, local and international monitors had described the election as grossly flawed because there was no election in most parts of the state, the nation’s election body INEC had gone ahead and announced Mr. Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba (a.k.a. Dr. Andy Uba) the winner. How INEC got the figures to make that decision is still a puzzle to many.

Africans In America News Watch investigation shows that INEC has not released the results of the election despite written requests coupled with physical visit by Her Excellency to INEC’s office, thereby further fueling the suspicion that the result was ‘doctored’.

Information and opinion polls indicate that in places such as Uga, the hometown of President Obasanjo’s favorite candidate and the environs where votes were cast before the process was hijacked by sponsored thugs, Her Excellency was winning by 75 to 80% margin.

Despite the controversial and questionable announcement by INEC, the profile of Her Excellency continues to soar. During a recent public forum, elder statesman, national leader and the presidential candidate of APGA, Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and Anambra State Governor His Excellency Peter Obi and other leaders described Her Excellency as epitome of royalty and integrity in the way she followed party guidelines in discharging her duties since APGA came to the seat of power in Anambra State.

Historians had reportedly described Mrs. Etiaba as the best Nigerian Governor in the footstep of Michael Okpara administration of 1960s reputed for massive development projects.

Anambra is one of Nigerian states under close observation by local and international groups, including Africans In America News Watch.

History of high crimes, electoral betrayal and man-made disasters

Matthews Aremu Okikiola Olusegun Obasanjo; then and now.  As a military general he ruled Nigeria in 1975–1980 and left willingly. He returned to power as civilian president and ruled from 1999–2007 but does not want to leave willingly when his term expires. He left Nigeria in political, economic and social shambles.

A lot of prominent Nigerian political, social and economic leaders came from Anambra States. Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, former Head-of State of defunct Republic of Biafra also came from Anambra State. Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo accepted the Biafran Surrender Document from Biafran soldiers in Igbo-Ukwu town, Anambra State in 1970. Therefore, Anambra State has a very significant place in the history of Nigeria.

Since the end of the Nigeria-Biafran War of 1967 – 1970, though declared 'no victor no vanquished', Anambra State had been marked for neglect and punishing government policies. The worst of military administrators were post to Anambra State by the successive federal governments of Nigeria.

President Obasanjo’s People Democratic Party (PDP) won Anambra State and formed government in 1999. For four years the government wasted the states resources, owing civil servants and teachers, shutting down schools and government offices. The state saw zero development in the 4 years Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju ruled as civilian governor. Since ouster of Mbadinuju following internal disputes within Obasanjo’s cronies in the state, it has been reported that the governor was actually following President Obasanjo’s script of ‘neglect and punishing policies’.

In July 2003, another Obasanjo governorship candidate by name of Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige was installed in very controversial circumstances after the 2003 election. Few weeks after swearing in, a group led by Obasanjo’s brother in-law, Mr. Chris Uba reportedly kidnapped the governor. Upon rescue, Governor Ngige announced that President Obasanjo’s in-law had designed a scheme to squander the state fund but when he (Governor Ngige) refused to go along, the President’s brother-in-law and crony organized his kidnapping and torture. That incident was aired on national media and Anambra people were enraged.

Finding himself over-powered and cornered, Governor Ngige quickly appealed for the support of the masses by cleverly revealing chilling details of ‘pre-election’ secret pact he had with President Obasanjo cronies to squander the resources of Anambra State. Some of those pacts include secret written agreements to squander public funds with them and secret oaths he took to seal the agreements at Okija Satanic shrines with hundreds of dead bodies and human parts at various level of decomposition.

Dr. Chris Ngige, former crony of President Obasanjo who betrayed Obasanjo Camp and exposed the secret corruption and anti-Igbo agendas of the highest level of Nigerian government. After 3 and half years in office the court declared his tenure a nullity and ousted him from office.

Vowing never to be outdone, the Obasanjo group in turn revealed that Dr. Ngige did not win the 2003 election but was rigged into office using their control of election machinery and law enforcement agencies.

Governor Ngige survived in office for 3 and half years by controlling waste, ensuring prompt payment of civil servants, unleashing massive road constructions and inventing costly crisis one after another while appealing to the masses of the grossly underdeveloped state for support.

The Coming of Peter Obi and more turbulence

In August 2006, the governor Ngige was ousted by Nigerian court, which declared his election and assumption of office illegal and nullity.

The real winners of 2003 election, Mr. Peter Obi (Governor) and Dame Virgy Etiaba (Deputy Governor) were immediately sworn-in, while ousted Dr. Chris Ngige quickly and cleverly escaped into United States via Britain to avoid arrest by Obasanjo’s security agents.

Governor Peter Obi for very strange reason betrayed the masses that supported him and slaughtered thousands of jobless youths he referred to as "hoodlums."

The crisis created by Dr. Ngige administration continued when Governor Peter Obi assumed office. In a very strange twist, Governor Obi requested President Obasanjo to send federal troops to quell unemployed youths’ protest shortly upon assuming office. In the process estimated hundreds and probably thousands of youths including female and children were slaughtered. In November 6, 2006 the House of Assembly dominated by lawmakers royal to the ousted Dr. Chris Ngige, President Obasanjo’s archenemy, impeached Governor Peter Obi in controversial circumstances. Her Excellency Etiaba then assumed the position of Governor of Anambra State, thereby making her the first female to occupy governorship position in the history of Nigeria.

Etiaba, Peace and Development Projects

Governor Etiaba occupied the governorship office for only 3 months November6, 2006 – February 7, 2007. On February 7, 2007 the Court ruled the impeachment of Peter obi was illegal and she immediately arranged a smooth transition and handed power back to Governor Obi who she referred to as her boss.

Her Excellency Etiaba’s 3 months in the office of Governor was marked by peace and tranquility, payment of civil servants, massive rural development initiatives in terms of road constructions among other development projects she embarked upon.

Therefore, in April 14, 2007 Her Excellency Etiaba stood for election to win and continue her reign of peace and development initiatives in Anambra State.

Mr. Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba, President Obasanjo’s brother-in-law has been declared winner of governorship election that never took place in Anambra State. Anambra governorship is referred to as "parting gift" given to him by his powerful brother in-law for his "royalty."

Though Her Excellency Etiaba was reportedly the people’s choice for Anambra State governorship in the April 14, 2007 poll, Mr. Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba who is President Obasanjo’s brother-in-law and elder brother to Mr. Chris Uba, the Obasanjo’s crony that reportedly masterminded the kidnapping of Governor Chris Ngige in 2003 was declared winner is circumstances that shocked almost everyone including international monitors. Reports indicate that Anambra election was largely aborted and ‘doctored’.

Africans In America News Watch investigation further reveals that Anambra people are very jittery about Mr. Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba due to what he represents.

Though he was President Obasanjo’s Special Advisor on Domestic Matters for 7 and half years, Mr. Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba’s (aka Dr. Andy Uba) was unable to utilize his high office to attract any development project to Anambra State and this is one of the major complaint people has against him.

Her Excellency Etiaba and the people of Anambra State hope that justice will prevail quickly at the tribunal to enable her to take Anambra State to 'the promised land'.

Her Excellency Etiaba, fondly referred to as “Mama Anambra” by the people of Anambra State for her leadership style, particularly her unique ability to spread peace and initiate massive rural developments, is reportedly committed to waging war against poverty, which is the main cause of human trafficking, a major problem in Anambra State, Nigeria.