Abians anxiously await announcement of governorship election final result
*As collation continues today
Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abians are anxiously waiting for the announcement of the governorship election held in the state on Saturday, March 18, 2023 which collation of results continues today, Monday, March 20, 2023 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Commission, Sunday evening, suspended the result collation holding at its state office at Ogurube Layout in Umuahia after collating results from 10 of the 17 local government areas, with a promise to conclude the exercise today.
Collation, according INEC, would recommence by 10 a.m, even as electoral body raised concerns over the invasion of its office in Obingwa local government area of the state by persons suspected to be thugs.
The two leading parties: Labour Party (LP), and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won in five local governments each of the 10 local governments so far released
The LP Governorship Candidate, Alex Otti, emerged victorious in Umunneochi, Bende, Arochukwu, Isuikwuato and Ikwuano with total votes numbering 43, 797; while his PDP rival, Okey Ahiwe, won in Ukwa East, Ukwa West, Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Ngwa South and Ugwunagbo which fetched him a total of 40, 323 votes.
This shows that Otti is leading with 3,474 votes.
However, during Saturday’s collation, some party agents raised issues with some of the declared results, especially that of Isiala Ngwa North where PDP polled 21,741 votes, and LP chalked up a paltry 7,323 votes. Isiala Ngwa North is the home council of the PDP candidate.
The State Returning Officer and Vice-chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Professor Nnenna Oti, promised to review result in line with the rules and guidelines governing the poll before the final declaration of the result.
Also yesterday, the INEC headquarters deplored the behaviour of thug who invaded its facility in Obingwa local government area of the state describing their action as “unacceptable,” and assured that results from the area would be thoroughly screened before it would be declared as it was alleged that the thugs were forcing INEC staff to accept fake governorship election results.
Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye, alerted the nation of the invasion of its office in Obingwa Local Government Area by thugs during the collation of results for the Governorship and State Assembly elections.
“At the moment, collation of results and declaration of winners for the 28 Governorship and 993 State Assembly elections are ongoing nationwide. We are committed to the sanctity of the process and will not hesitate to take drastic measures against proven irregularities. Allegations of voter inducement, harassment and manipulation of results will be reviewed and addressed,” Okoye said.
He added: “Earlier today, the Commission alerted the nation to the invasion of our Obingwa Local Government Area office in Abia State by thugs during the collation of results for the Governorship and State Assembly elections. In contention was the collated result from the Registration Areas for the Governorship election in that Local Government Area. The intention was to force the collation of these contentious results. The behaviour of these thugs is unacceptable and there will be a thorough review of the results.
“The Commission does not take the patience of citizens for granted and will continue to take steps to protect the integrity of the vote and consolidate the progress so far in the electoral process.”
ABIA LGA GUBER RESULTS SO FAR DECLARED
1. Ukwa East LGA
LP 2,273
PDP. 2,329 ✓
2. Umunne Ochi LGA
LP. 5940 ✓
PDP. 2,742
3. IsIalangwa North
LP. 7,323
PDP. 21,741✓
4. Bende LGA
LP. 9,886✓
PDP. 3,410
5. IsIalangwa South
LP. 7,589
PDP. 9,093✓
6. Ukwa West LGA
LP. 2,833
PDP. 4,622 ✓
7. Arochukwu LGA
L.P. 12,689✓
PDP. 1,280
8. Isiukwuato LGA
LP. 8,228✓
PDP. 2,204
9. Uguwnagbo LGA
LP 2,159
PDP. 2,538✓
10. Ikwuano
LP 7054
PDP 2427
