Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Labour Party Senatorial candidate for Abia North senatorial contest, Chief Nnamdi Iro Orji, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to quickly conclude the inconclusive senatorial election in the zone so as to reduce the mounting tension in the zone.
This is as he rejected what he called “illegal declaration of a winner” by the Returning Officer when polls did not hold in so many units.
Ikengaonline had reported that Senator Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party, also rejected the result of the poll, calling for re-run in the areas where election did not hold.
Ohuabunwa regretted that the introduction of the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, had instead of checkmating rigging, worsened manipulation of election figures.
Speaking to the press after presenting a petition addressed to the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, the LP candidate, expressed shock that INEC decided to act against the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Chief Orji recalled that INEC had already declared the election inconclusive and listed Isiama and Okanu Wards in Ohafia and several polling units in Abiriba as areas where election would be conducted, only for an INEC official to connive with his opponent and declared the winner illegally.
He said that over 40,000 voters in the aforementioned areas which is 15 times higher than the 2,500 votes with which the APC candidate is leading.
The LP candidate called on INEC to quickly conclude the exercise by conducting fresh election in those areas where election had not held so as to save the image of the Commission which he said, “is now at stake.”
He alleged that the APC candidate, Orji Uzor Kalu “wants to win through the back door,” adding that the official who wants to return him illegally had failed as the election must be concluded.”
