The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the commission has no issues with the result of Saturday’s National Assembly polls in Abia North Senatorial District. Mr Bamidele Oyetunji, the Public Relations Officer of the commission in Umuahia, the Abia capital, said this in an interview with newsmen on Friday.
Bamidele said that the commission only had problem with the results of the National Assembly polls in Abia South Senatorial District, which were still awaiting declaration. The clarification was coming on the heels of the agitation by Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the declaration of Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, as the winner of the election in Abia north.
Kalu, who polled 31,201 votes was declared the winner ahead of the two other frontline contenders, including Ohuabunwa and Chief David Onuoha, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, who scored 20,801 votes and 11,410 votes, respectively. Ohuabunwa had alleged in a statement issued in Umuahia that the Returning Officer for the election, Dr. Charles Anumudu, did not declare anybody winner of the poll. But according to Oyetunji, “the commission has no problem with the result of the polls in Abia north.”
Also, the Head, Voter Education and Publicity Unit of the commission, Mr Achibie Chigozie, said that Ohuabunwa knew where to direct his grievances.
Meanwhile, Dr Orji Kalu, the senator-elect, Abia North Senatorial district has urged his opponents, particularly Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to accept result of the Feb. 23 National Assembly election in good faith or seek redress in court. Mr Peter Eze of Orji Kalu Media Group, in a statement Friday said that the election was never declared inconclusive by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Eze described as misleading, a fake report being circulated on social media platforms that INEC declared the National Assembly election in Abia North Senatorial district inconclusive.
The report said that PDP in Abia rejected the result of Abia North Senatorial zone election declared by INEC on the grounds of alleged unlawful manipulations and unjustifiable cancellations.
The party said that at best, the election was inconclusive and should be so declared by INEC. Eze recalled that INEC returning officer for the zone, Dr Charles Anumudu, on Sunday, Feb. 24, declared Kalu, the APC candidate winner in the presence of all party agents at Ohafia Girls Secondary School, Amaekpu Ohafia. Announcing the result, Anumudu declared APC candidate winner with 31, 208 votes, PDP 20, 801 votes and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)11,410 votes. Upon declaration of the results by the designated returning officer, we expected all contestants to accept the results in good faith or seek redress in the court of law. We also advise the public to disregard the malicious and fake news being circulated by the PDP candidate. “While expressing our gratitude to the people of Abia North for their unflinching support for Kalu and the APC, we urge members of our party to remain calm and steadfast.”
