Ebonyi PDP guber candidate, Odii accuses APC of disrupting polls
From Chinedu Nwafor, Abakaliki
The Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress in the State of importing political thugs who disrupted the smooth conduct of the elections across the State.
Odii made the allegation on Saturday at his country home, Isu, Onicha LGA of the State after casting his votes.
According to him, there are incidences of ballot box snatching, burning of electoral materials and intimidation of voters across the State.
He called on the security agencies to beef-up security in the areas where there were reports of violence and disruption of elections.
Odii said: “Yes, the report has been coming in from different local governments. You know the APC are very desperate. If they are prepared for election, I don’t think they would go about disrupting the process in Ohaozara, Afikpo North and South, virtually almost all the local government. That is why I said if you are sure of winning, you will not be disrupting the election. What they are doing is burning of ballot papers and results but we have been talking to security agencies to beef off security.”
Odii also called on the INEC to reconduct elections where violence mar the exercise.
“Of course yes, the new electoral act said so, when there are violence, INEC Electoral commissioner should immediately cancel the elections in the area which I’m sure they have reported and will continue to report.”
On the turnout of voters, he said: “In some areas, people came out very well and some areas, people didn’t come out very well, because of the threats from the APC government of using thugs. Of course, they are doing that and it actually scared people away. So, Security agencies should have beefed up security knowing full well the flash point.”
On his assessment of the exercise, he said,”for me, if not for the violence here and there, I would have said that INEC BVAs is good for the election In Ebonyi State.”
