Obi, group urge INEC to speedily resolve tension in Abia, Enugu by declaring election results
Labour Party, alongside an indigenous group in Abia has frowned at the development playing out with announcement of elections results in Enugu and Abia states following the late decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend further collation of results.
In Abia, INEC which assured that the collation of results of the governorship and state Assembly polls conducted Saturday, March 18, at the various local government area offices in the state reneged, as it moved the process to Abuja, on Tuesday, citing insecurity.
With the Labour Party winning after 10 councils results collated and uploaded to the commission’s IReV portal indicating its lead, ahead of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
However, INEC has claimed that its office in one of the local government areas was invade by thugs on Sunday, which according to it, informed the decision to shift further collation of results in the council area to Monday.
However, by Monday, INEC cite insecurity at the council office in Obingwa and subsequently directed its officials to proceed to Abuja where the collation will be concluded.
Reacting to the development, Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, condemned the action of the INEC, while tasking with fast tracking the process so as to avert tension and anxiety among the people, as, according to him, further delay will question the commission’s intent and credibility of the election.
“Having carefully followed the unfolding events relating to the gubernatorial elections in the two states, let me categorically emphasize the imperative of releasing the gubernatorial election results of Abia and Enugu States immediately.
“I am aware that the Independent National Electoral Commission said they are reviewing the collation of the results in these two States. However, I would like to urge them to accelerate action on this, as their continued delay is questioning INEC’s intent and the credibility of the election,” Obi state in a statement by the Obi-Datti office.
He expressed disappointment that 48 hours after the elections were conducted, it is disheartening that the commission is yet to resolve whatever issues that are holding back the release of the results.
“The records of the elections from polling units should not be difficult to calculate if the electoral officials are committed to the integrity of the exercise in line with the stipulated guidelines.”
Meanwhile, a grassroots group in Abia, the League of Ohuhu Sons, has claimed that the current confusion over the situation in the state is caused by INEC, insisting ‘the current stalemate is contrived.’
The group, in a statement signed by Barr. Chuks Akamadu (Convener) Chief Eboh Duke Ihekwereme (Chairman), H/Chief Victor Ikeji (Secretary), and Dr. Emeka Nwosu (Chairman, Publicity Committee), further urged INEC ‘to ensure that the expressed will of the people of Abia in this election is respected.’
“We understand that the INEC Headquarters in Abuja has reportedly directed that all the parties in Abia Governorship elections should proceed to Abuja this morning where the final decision on the outcome of the election would be taken. This development overrides the earlier decision in which the same INEC had directed some of its National Commissioners to come to Abia today to review the contentious and fictitious Obingwa results.
“It is important to note that results have been received from 16 out of the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State, remaining Obingwa where the ruling PDP in Abia State is seeking to push through fictitious votes in its favour to illegally wipe the unassailable lead by Dr. Alex Otti of the Labour Party. Out of the results officially declared by INEC, PDP won only in 5 LGAs while the Labour Party won in 10 with YPP winning in one LGA. Our question is: Why is it taking INEC this long to take a simple decision of proclaiming Dr. Alex Otti winner after his overwhelming victories in all parts of Abia State?
“The current stalemate is contrived, and it is the bounden duty of INEC to ensure that the expressed will of the people of Abia in this election is respected. The INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu and his team in Abuja should not do anything that would subvert the will of the people of Abia State. The mandate given to Dr. Otti must stand. Anything to the contrary should not be contemplated, at all. Otherwise, Abians may have no option but to take to the streets to stop PDP from stealing the mandate freely given to Dr. Otti.
“We therefore wish to task INEC to quickly do the needful by declaring Dr. Otti duly elected governor of Abia, God’s Own State to avoid the predictable consequences of the gathering cloud in the state,” the statement by the group read.
