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2019 Polls: APGA has words for INEC
As reactions continue to trail the just-concluded National Assembly election, some candidates of opposition parties in Abia state have condemned the exercise, alleging alteration of results by their opponents and the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).
Reacting to the outcome of the elections in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) senatorial candidate for Abia central zone, Chief Chidi Ajaegbu, expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing presidential and National Assembly general elections in the senatorial district.
Ajaegbu called for a rerun election in Abia central, hinting that the late arrival of INEC sensitive materials hindered the people from cast their vote to candidates of their choice.
The APGA chieftain said, “I am not satisfied with the exercise at all. In Abia state, so many things are wrong. And example, electoral materials did not get to the poll early.
“When they get to Osisioma, there had issue card reader and result sheet. The whole thing was characterized one problem by one problem to another. And it took INEC four years to plan for the election.
“I am asking for rerun in Osisioma Ngwa local government an Isiala Ngwa and Isiala Ngwa south local government area Umuahia south local government area.
“So, I’m not satisfy with the election. I urge INEC to do the needful and conduct transparent election.”
Also, Ikechukwu Apugo, the All Progressives Congress(APC) House of Representatives candidate for Ikwuano/Umuahia constituency of Abia state, in his reaction, rejected the votes allocated to him by INEC.
Recall that Hon. Sam Onuigbo, who ran on the platform of PDP for second tenure, polled 30, 669 to defeat his closest rival, Apugo of the APC, who polled 23,279 votes.
Prof. Georgina Ugwuanyi, the Returning Officer for the constituency, who announced the result in Umuahia, declared Onuigbo the winner.
“All the result sheets from our polling unit agents showed clearly that we won the election free and square but the wishes of our people were subverted by the PDP at the point of collation.
“Let me make it very clear that we have rejected the outcome of the final results because it does not reflect the results that emanated from the polling units. Make no mistake about it, we will not stop until we have regained our victory which is the will of our people.
“It is sad that despite the efforts made by our President Muhammad Buhari to ensure a free, fair and credible elections for 2019, some entities went the extra mile to frustrate these efforts and reverse the gains of our democracy.
“I would like to urge my teeming supporters to hold their peace and conduct themselves in an orderly manner. I promise that I will not let you down. I will make sure that your votes for me were not in vain”.
Reacting also, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for the Isiala North and South House of Representatives seat, Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, in an interview with reporters on Tuesday, called for the cancellation of the election conducted in the constituency.
INEC had declared the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Mr. Darlington Nwokeocha, as winner of the election.
Nwankpa described the election as a charade and insisted that it must be cancelled.
He alleged that many voters from the area were disenfranchised by the late arrival of INEC ad-hoc staff and election materials.
According to Nwankpa, “I have written a petition to the INEC and the Department of States services, calling for the cancellation of the election.
” What was done in my constituency is better described as a charade rather than election. Many eligible voters where disenfranchised by the INEC ad-hoc staff sent to my area. The ad-hoc staff arrived by 4:30 and ended the election by 5 Pm.
“In some polling units the number of votes cast did not tally with the number of voters accredited. In some unit only 30 people voted and 300 votes were recorded. INEC didn’t give us a credible election.”
Meanwhile, INEC has urged candidates that participated in the last Saturday’s National Assembly elections and had complaints to officially file petition to the commission for review, rather than accusing the electoral umpire of exhibiting bias during the polls.