They also show that even the nation’s “godfathers” have to move ahead with the times. The term, which refers to political patrons, is widely used in Nigeria. Chris Uba, a wealthy businessman who was close to President Obasanjo and had been happy to sponsor Mr. Ngige’s political ambitions, is a good example of the genre. He and his fellow godfathers were displeased by the governor’s failure to award them inflated contracts they did not intend to fulfill. Their outrage was amplified by a statement Mr. Ngige made after his abduction, in which he referred to a pledge of loyalty they had made him take before an Igbo religious shrine. “I followed them and watched them say their nonsense, and got out,” he said, adding that he thought he could “afford to call their bluff” once he assumed office.

Mr. Ngige’s godfathers, disappointed by the police, were forced to seek payback elsewhere. And so they turned to the judicial process. With help from the federal government, they were able to get an election tribunal to declare Mr. Ngige’s election invalid and rule that his opponent Peter Obi was the true victor. Mr. Ngige accepted the decision with good grace. A popular politician widely seen as being victimized by corrupt forces, he was subsequently elected senator. Now, with Mr. Obi’s two terms as governor ending, Mr. Ngige has once more sought the post.

The election last week was a three-way fight between the All Progressives Grand Alliance, represented by Mr. Obi’s would-be successor, Willie Obiano; the Peoples Democratic Party, which is headed by President Goodluck Jonathan, and was represented in Anambra by Tony Nwoye; and the All Progressives Congress, represented by Mr. Ngige.

The Grand Alliance is relatively insignificant on the national scene, with only two of the country’s 36 governors, and only eight of the 469 seats in the National Assembly. The P.D.P., by contrast, has dominated Nigerian politics for nearly 15 years. It was also once the party of Mr. Ngige, who was hoping to bounce back with the A.P.C., itself a coalition of parties forged earlier this year in hopes of breaking the P.D.P.’s grip in the general elections set for April 2015. The coalition, which controls 11 states and 102 National Assembly seats, represents a huge threat to the governing party. So it was imperative that the P.D.P. keep Mr. Ngige out.

Fortunately for them, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission is appointed by the president. Despite widespread protests, the commission chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has declared the Grand Alliance candidate, Willie Obiano, the provisional winner. Though Professor Jega admitted that there was “sabotage” by some of election officials, who accredited only 451,826 of the 1,763,751 registered voters, and promised reruns in the affected areas, the commission has rejected calls to annul the vote.