From Chuks Onuoha, Umuahia.

The people of Isuikwuato Local Government Area, in Abia North Senatorial Zone have appealed  to  the leadership of  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, not to substitute the winner of yesterday’s primary, Mr Bonny Ikwuegbu with any other candidate, in order to  maintain peace and order. Meanwhile, there is palpable fear, apprehension and uncertainty over  alleged plan by a group to   substitute the winner  of the primary with the loser.
Most of the people who spoke to Daily Sun under condition of anonymity expressed sadness over this development but vowed to fight it with the last drop of their blood if such a thing happens.
Speaking to Daily Sun, an Isuikwuato indigene, who gave his name as Edward Okorie said his people   know those who are plotting to upturn the peaceful exercise to their own selfish desires.
“ Time when people allow impunity in  Isuikwuato election is over, our  people are  apprehensive over this development. What we are asking the party  is to do the right thing, they shouldn’t  subvert the wish  of the people.
“They should release the result of the primaries to the winner whom we already know, because if they had wanted to select, they should have done so from the beginning instead of subjecting popular candidates to rigorous expenses only to take it from them and give it to an unpopular candidate whom the people did not vote for,” he said.
Another candidate who spoke under anonymity said: “Since they allowed people to canvass for support and they did  and people came out to show their choice, they should respect the wish of the people.  If this is not done, no one can predict what the outcome will be, there could be protest,  chaos and even anarchy. The people have chosen the person they would want to lead them.”
“ And it will not give government credibility as a system that respects the wish of her citizens. It would not be good that an exercise of this nature was peacefully conducted by the people and some strange fellow is imposed on them, Government should take note of that “, he advised.
However, a Local Government Source told Daily Sun that Chmezie Armstrong , a one time Chairman of Isialangwa North LGA was sent to conduct the primaries and he conducted it peacefully to the delight of all who attended, including all the past Chairmen of the Council.
“After the accreditation which was done at the gate, everybody came in and sat down. The ballot  box was brought and shown to everybody to see that it was empty.  The voting material s were distributed and all the three contestants s were represented by their agents. The exercise went smoothly as all the delegates wrote the names of their choice candidates and voted accordingly. There was no problems. After that the result was counted and was Ikwuegbu Bonny emerged as the winner by scoring 79 votes, followed by Nnamdi Udeze who scored 17 votes and Pius Okoma scored 10 votes. The whole thing was recorded at the Chairman’s office,  where papers were signed and everybody left peacefully. There was no dispute or argument with anyone, it was a smooth and peaceful exercise.
But this morning we started getting phones calls from different places that PDP had concluded plans to substitute the winner with the looser and we are saying no to the effrontery  . The information  has been making rounds at Isuikwuato and everybody is patiently waiting and what we are urging them is to do the right thing. Any attempt to announce another person who is not the winner will definitely spell doom for some people in this LGA, he warned.
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has said that he he  did not endorse any aspirant, as there  was no reason for such.
In a statement he issued through his CPS, Mr Enyinnaya Appolos, the Governor said that  any claim to such endorsement is false.
He said that he will only endorse dully nominated party candidates presented by the PDP. as he  is bent on providing a level playing ground for all participants in the elections.
He assured all Abians to do everything in his power to ensure the conduct of a free and fair local government poll on the 17th of December 2016.END