A total of 18 out of the 23 political parties that participated in last weekend’s governorship election in Anambra State, have told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard calls in some quarters for the cancellation of the ballot.

Yesterday in Awka, the state capital, 15 state party chairmen threw their weight behind the decision by INEC to conduct supplementary election in areas where the election was cancelled.

The party chairmen include those of PDM, MPPP, ADC, ACD; AA, NCP, AP; KOWA; ACPN, SDP, CPP, APA and DPP.

Speaking at a press conference, the party chairmen led by Prince Chuba Ikeagwu of PDM, said they were unanimous in their support for the supplementary election, which they insisted is in the best interest of the people of Anambra State.

domain, Ikeagwu contends: “Let the supplementary election be conducted and let the state move forward. The supplementary election is acceptable to us, let INEC go and conduct it and whoever wins, we will support him in the interest of the state,” Ikeagwu, who was surrounded by the other party chairmen, said.

They thanked INEC and other stakeholders in the state for conducting a peaceful election, saying: “After critical review, we accept and abide by all the results collated by INEC in the Anambra governorship election, and we back INEC in its proposed supplementary elections for the conclusion of the governorship election, to enable INEC declare the result without further delay so that the state can move forward.”

In a separate development, governorship candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Godwin Ezeemo, also dissociated himself from call for the cancellation of the election. He told newsmen at his country home, Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area that what happened in the election is not enough to call for the outright cancellation of the entire election.

Ezeemo urged INEC to work harder to make the supplementary election successful.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose candidate Tony Nwoye came second in the election, and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), whose flagbearer Willie Obiano emerged first, have equally rejected calls for the cancellation of the election as being championed by Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC), PDP’s Tony Nwoye and Ifeanyi Ubah of Labour Party.

•Photo shows PPA candidate, Godwin Ezeemo, one of those opposed to calls for the cancellation of the election.