Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced the postponement of the collation of results for the Abia State governorship election held on Saturday till 9:00am Monday.
Presiding Officer and Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO, Professor Nnenna Oti, announced the adjournment Sunday evening shortly after the Collation resumed after three-hour break.
Collation of results which began around noon amidst heavy security, went on break around 3:00 pm after results from 10 Local Government Areas had been declared.
Results from seven LGAs were still being awaited before the break.
When collation resumed around 6:00pm, the Presiding Officers later adjourned the exercise till Monday as no new results were coming in.
Ikengaonline had reported that before the break, Dr Alex Otti of the main opposition Labour Party, was coasting to victory having polled 66,024 votes in the 10 LGAs so far declared.
Chief Okey Ahiwe of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP came next with 52,849 votes.
Other parties crawled behind with very low results.
Meanwhile, there have been allegations and counter allegations of heavy manipulations going on in Obingwa LGA where the incumbent Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu hails from.
Apart from Obingwa that is still under serious contention, feelers indicate that the Labour Party was very strong in the remaining LGAs.
INEC later in a tweet admitted that its office in the LGA was invaded.
There were calls for the cancellation of the election in Obingwa following wide spread irregularities and violence in some polling units.
A mammoth crowd of youths had gathered opposite the entrance road to the INEC office chanting “Otti, Labour Party.”
They vowed to keep vigil around the INEC office until the commission announces the winner of the contest according to the will of the people.
They also vowed to resist any attempt to subvert the will of the people again.
