#AbiaHasntDecided: Election Observers Call On INEC To Totally Cancel Results In Four LGAs

In a runoff to prepare for the rerun governorship election in Abia state, a Coalition of Civil society Organisations and Election Observers has called for the cancellation of the election in four local government areas in Abia state. The local governments are Obingwa, Osisioma, Ugwunagbo and Isialangwa North.The Coalition on Friday, while giving report on the Abia gubernatorial election, called for total cancellation of the election as it accused the state government and the PDP of interference and malpractices in the poll.

The PDP thugs led by a lawyer, Ugwuzor Adindu, and his team demanded that the briefing should be held in Abia and not Lagos, the observers said.

“In his argument, Adindu, said that other senatorial zones have ruled and it is time for Abia south senatorial to rule, though not minding the wishes of the Abia people.

“Meanwhile, it was learnt that journalists in the state have been subjected to various harassment and intimidation in reporting against the ruling party.

The Coalition led by Comrade David Anyaele of Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), accused the PDP stalwarts of thumb printing ballot papers in their homes and snatching ballot boxes.

Comrade Anyaele, however called on the  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to redeploy all erring INEC officers found culpable and who played a role in the controversial election in the state.

“We demand for total cancellation of results in the four Local Government Areas: Ugwunagbo, Osisioma, Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa north; not some polling units or wards in those areas because reports from our teams of observers show there was no election in these areas.

“With negative public perception of the elections in the state and ahead of the rerun, INEC should take every necessary step to protect the integrity of the election as a way of strengthening the trust of the electorate in the voting process and should guide against interference by the incumbent and other political and public office holders.

“Redeploy the corrupt INEC officers who have in one way or the other compromised in the inconclusive election to uphold the commission’s integrity in organizing a transparent and credible election. The results released in these LGAs are highly questionable due to the level of voter apathy in the gubernatorial election”, the observers said.