Abia ex-gov Onu tasks INEC on polls in S’East, S’South

• Christian group prays for peaceful transitions

AHEAD tomorrow’s governorship and states House of Assembly polls across the country, former governor of Abia State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogbonnaya Onu, yesterday charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that elections in the South East and South South zones are conducted in a free and fair manner.

Onu, who was the chairman of the APC presidential candidates screening committee emphasized the need for INEC to monitor the exercise in these zones, alleging that the last presidential elections were massively rigged.

He noted that there were instances where the card readers were manipulated and declared ineffective, result sheets were not provided, but in the end, results were allegedly written in the apartments of some individuals.

The former governor warned that the results of the election would be rejected in the two zones if the alleged malpractice in the presidential election were repeated tomorrow in these zones.

Onu explained while speaking to journalists in Abuja that the coming of APC has helped to introduce a healthy competition in the political arena, stressing that Nigerians now have the power to chose their leaders.

Meanwhile, the Christian Laity Association of Nigeria at its 35th Annual National Prayer Breakfast Fellowship has prayed for peace as the nation transits from one government to another.

The fellowship, with the theme: “They found Grace in the Wilderness” which was held yesterday at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos offered prayers for the youths, the Nigerian economy, the country’s new leadership, the judiciary, Church and Christian Laity.

The programme was presided over by the National Coordinator, Mrs. Modupe Odukoya and attended by various groups of the fellowship in Lagos.

Odukoya described the 35th edition of the prayer as a landmark that coincided with the peaceful presidential election despite the fears about the outcome.

“The theme of this year’s annual national prayer breakfast fellowship is the true picture of our nation. Nigeria has been in the wilderness of sin, corruption, mismanagement and yet God granted us His mercies to have a peaceful election, which is nothing but His providence,” adding that the fellowship has not relented in praying for peaceful election since last year and the peace that greeted the Presidential election was no doubt an answer to the prayers.

“All voices of evil were silenced and we are grateful unto God that our 35th edition of this prayer is coming at a very important time.”

Odukoya recalled that the prayer meeting started at Dodan Barracks during the civil war. According to her, Christians went to Dodan Barracks that Nigeria needed to pray while the war was going on and they also started fellowship in their offices, which led to more people getting interested and more groups were formed.

She added that by 1980, the thought of making it an annual event was conceived and since then, God has not failed the group.

She prayed for the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, for God to guide him to lead the nation aright.

The Chairman, Planning Committee, Chief Brown Mene, said as long as the President-elect remains faithful to God, He would use him mightily for the nation.