…Allegations baseless, unfounded – Otti
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
A Civil Society Organisation(CSO ) known as Nigeria Leadership Performance Index, has expressed worry over alleged government’s involvement and control of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission in today’s (November 2nd) Local Government election in the state.
The group in a statement by its team leader, Comrade Onyedikachi Kalu, and Secretary Comrade Friday Eleojo, stated that although ABSIEC had shown commitment to transparent and fair process to a credible poll, “there is still doubt and concerns over it remaining resolute and committed without bias till the end of the process.”
According to the statement, the group’s investigation revealed that some party candidates were said to have emerged without ABSIEC screening and due process of their party primaries.
They alleged imposition of unpopular candidates by the Governor in many Local Government Areas under different political parties are raising serious security concern on the peaceful conduct of the election.
The situation, according to the group, is more tensed in lsiala-Ngwa South Local Government Area.
But in a swift response Gov. Alex Otti denied any interference in the council poll, dismissing the allegations as “false, baseless, unfounded” and intended to tarnish his image.
The group had claimed that the rumours of fake election result sheets to be supplied at polling units “while the original result sheet wil be allegedly manipulated by some forces is causing panic among candidates.”
It, therefore, urged security agencies and the State Government to ensure that all forms of intimidation, harassment and imposition of candidates are stopped in the interest of peace.
The statement read in part: “Gov. Alex Otti should remain a father for all and be ready to work with anybody that emerges as Chairman of his LGA despite political affiliation.
“Selection of candidates for any election should not be based on compensatory or reciprocation of goodwill, but rather based on competence through democratic means.
“The case of lsiala Ngwa South Local Government Area remains peculiar, as the entire community has so resolved on the candidate of their choice but the insistence of the Governor to deliver his own candidate is causing security tension in the entire community.
“We recommend that the Governor takes off his hands and allow the good people of Isiala-Ngwa South freely elect a candidate of their choice.
“The Chairman of Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof George Chima, should not allow his hard- earned integrity to be dented by the so-called desperate politicians with their overzealousness. Rather, he should remain resolute and committed to working for the entire good people of the state by giving them credible, transparent and peaceful election.
“The boastful utterances of some candidates particularly the chairmanship candidates, of YPP and ZLP in Isiala-Ngwa South bragging openly with the name of the Governor even as the election has not been conducted should be investigated by the security agents as such statement is causing security tension in the LGA.
“The Governor as a man of equity and justice should come out to clear his name from this allegation and reassure the voters of the state and Isiala-Ngwa South in particular that their vote must count.”
Gov. Otti who spoke through his Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, challenged the group to provide empirical evidence of any plan by the State Government to manipulate the outcome of the council poll.
The Governor accused the opposition especially the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of spreading false rumours to blackmail him.
Otti who said those behind the allegations were not prepared for the election urged members of the public to disregard the “untenable propaganda,” restating the commitment of his administration to credible polls.
He said: “The allegation is false, baseless and unfounded. They were unable to make reference to any empirical fact to substantiate their claims.
“Such allegations are coming from the opposition especially the PDP. The opposition is behind such spurious allegations because they are not ready for the election.
“If you move round the state you will discover that they are not mobilising nor sensitising the people because they know they do not have the capacity to win election in Abia again.
“In the past, it has been rigging, and that’s why they assumed that the present Government will do what they used to do when they were in power. That’s why they are afraid. They couldn’t campaign because they knew that naturally, Abians will not look their way again. Their reputation is in tatters, their record was very shambolic. They never enjoyed the support of the people, and that was why they resorted to brigandage while they held sway.”
