Abia Central Senatorial poll:  I’m still consulting with my lawyers-PDP candidate

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia 

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate for Abia Central Senatorial election, Col. Austin Akobundu (Rtd.), has declared that his expectation was yet to be met with regard to the outcome of the February 25, 2024 National Assembly election in the zone.

Akobundu, in a statement endorsed by the Director-General of his Campaign Council, Pastor Emeka Inyama, on Friday, March 3, 2023, added that he was still studying the results of the election, which, he contended, did not hold in 42 polling units Osisioma local government area alone.

He expressed surprise that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) went ahead to declare the polling results even after having declared the exercise inconclusive.

INEC’s result showed that Akobundu polled over 41, 000 votes to place second, behind the Labour Candidate and winner, Hon. Darlington Nwokocha, who got over 91, 000 votes.

However, the PDP candidate urged his supporters to remain calm as he would come out with a definite statement after studying the results of the Abia Central Senatorial election as announced by INEC.

The statement reads: 

“On behalf of the Austin Akobundu Campaign Council, I wish to thank thousands of our party faithful and numerous supporters who trouped out en masse on Saturday, February 25, 2023 and voted for our Candidate, Col Austin Akobundu (Rtd), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate for Abia Central Senatorial District. 

“I want to use this medium to acknowledge your zeal to elect him into the Red Chambers – the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Though our expectations are yet to be met, I want to appeal to you to remain calm and law-abiding as we go through this harrowing period.

“We are studying the various results from the six Local Government Areas that make up the Abia Central and will soon make a categorical statement on our next line of action.

“We are not unaware of various issues that marred the Election such as Late Arrival of Elections Materials in the Polling Units, thuggery,; as well as intimidation by our opponents, including the Non-Conduct of Election in some Polling Units in Osisioma and other LGAs.

For example, Election was not held in 42 Units in Osisioma, as well as other LGAs.

Curiously, with all these anomalies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which had earlier declared that the Election was inconclusive in some of Polling Units, suddenly went ahead to announce a Winner.

“Our Principal has directed that we should remain calm and watch out for our next line of action.”

Akobundu is the second candidate to complain against the outcome of the Abia Central Senatorial contest.

The APC candidate for the election, Hon. Sam Onuigbo, last Wednesday, March 1, 2023, announced that he has rejected the results of the election outrightly.

According to Onuigbo, INEC omitted his party’s name on the Abia Central Senatorial election result sheet and went ahead to manufacture and allocate the strange figure of 7, 997 votes to him.

The federal lawmaker currently representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency said that he was still consulting with his lawyers on the issue.