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Suspended collation of Abia guber results: REC visits Abuja, LP stages protest

By From Gordi Udeajah (Umuahia), Lawrence Njoku (Enugu), Sodiq Omolaoye and Leo Sobechi, John Akubo, Adamu Abuh (Abuja)
22 March 2023   |   4:22 am
Following the directive by Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, that collation of remaining governorship election results from Obingwa Council of Abia State be suspended, the state Acting Resident Electoral Commissioner/ State Administrative Secretary, Clement Oha, has gone to Abuja to seek further directives on the issue.

Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), May Agbamuche-Mbu (left); INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu

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• Redeem your image with Abia, Enugu guber, Obiechina charges INEC
• PDP, LP protests in Enugu

Following the directive by Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, that collation of remaining governorship election results from Obingwa Council of Abia State be suspended, the state Acting Resident Electoral Commissioner/ State Administrative Secretary, Clement Oha, has gone to Abuja to seek further directives on the issue.

The state Returning Officer for the governorship election, Prof. Nnenna Otti, who is the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, had, during the council-by-council collation of results, on Monday, suddenly announced immediate suspension of collation of remaining results for Obingwa Council, saying it was in compliance with INEC’s directive.

The collation of results from 16 out of the 17 councils of the state had been concluded, before the suspension of that of Obingwa, which, INEC disclosed, followed invasion of INEC’s office in the council by thugs, who held undisclosed number of INEC workers and ad hoc staff members hostage.

Meanwhile, some stakeholders in the state have demanded immediate declaration of the governorship candidate of the opposition Labour Party (LP) as winner.

The group, in a statement by Dr. Eric Egwuibe, applauded the decision by INEC to review the governorship election results from Obingwa Council.

They expressed disappointment with conduct of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which, they said, was bent on winning the poll at all cost.

The stakeholders also called on the electoral umpire to immediately declare Otti the winner of the election.
Also, the state Human Rights and Pro-democracy Group has called on INEC to rise up and save the state from avoidable crisis by resolving the logjam encountered in the governorship election held on Saturday.

Meanwhile, INEC has dismissed an online report accusing its Chairman, Prof. Yakubu, of attempts to manipulate the governorship election result in Abia.

The Commission described the report as false and malicious.

A portal, Strenuous Blog, had quoted the state Returning Officer, Prof. Nnnena Otti, as alleging that she was being forced to do the wrong thing.

In a related development, Otti has urged his supporters and citizens of the state to be calm as no amount of cooked-up figures can thwart his victory.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, yesterday, Otti, who commended INEC for the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), described it as the game changer, which has demystified Obingwa Council votes.

Otti noted that BVAS has exposed the fraud being perpetrated in the council over the years by the ruling party in the state.

However, a chieftain of LP, Dr. Alex Obiechina, has decried the delay in announcing results of Abia and Enugu states’ governorship elections 48 hours after polls closed.

He said the delay has proved, beyond doubt, that INEC is part of a grand conspiracy against LP.

Obiechina, who is also the spokesman of Southern Middle Belt and Northern Support Groups for Obi (SMBNSG4O), made the assertion, in Abuja, yesterday, in a statement.

He, therefore, enjoined INEC to use the two cases, especially that of Enugu, to prove to Nigerians that it is not only independent but also impartial, stressing that the electoral umpire should do the needful by declaring LP and Chijioke
Edeoga the governor-elect of Enugu State.

Aalso, for the second day, yesterday, supporters and members of PDP and LP in Enugu State continued to occupy roads leading into the headquarters of INEC in the state over the suspension of the governorship election results.

INEC had, on Monday, suspended further collation of Enugu governorship election results based on complaints of alleged irregularities in Nkanu East and Nsukka councils.

Supporters, who apparently got a wind of the development, had converged on area as early as 08:00 a.m., on Monday, chanting solidarity songs in support of their candidate, Peter Mbah, of the PDP.

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