Umuahia, the Abia State capital, was agog on Monday
evening following information that the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the result being
paraded by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as being that
of Abia Central District.
Daily Sun gathered that Gov Theodore Orji was roundly
beaten at the poll including in his polling unit, ward and
local government by the candidate of the All Progressives
Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Ahamdi Emmanuel Nweke, but
that PDP in connivance some Independent National Electoral
(INEC) officials allegedly manipulated the result in favour of
the governor.
It was also gathered that following complaints lodged at the
INEC headquarters, Abuja, a three-man committee was set up
to look into the allegation of result manipulation.
"Although the committee's report has not been made public,
but a source revealed the APGA candidate won the election
and members are taking their findings back to the INEC
headquarters.
When news of the development filtered into town, the capital
city went agog with residents saying that at last, the man they
voted for, would represent them in the Senate.
A prominent Umuahia chief, who hails from the same area
with Gov Orji, was said to have held an elaborate party to
celebrate the development.
Addressing newsmen, Chief Nweke said there was no time he
had doubt about his ability to defeat Gov Orji at the poll,
stating that his non-performance in office made victory
easier for him.
Nweke said it was not only that he defeated Orji, but that he
beat him at his (governor's) polling unit, which, according to
him, meant his kinsmen rejected him and that he also
defeated the governor at the wife's polling unit.
He said: "If I could beat the governor at his polling unit and
that of his wife, all in Umuahia, which means total rejection
by his kinsmen, where else could he get the votes that will
make him to defeat me? Could it be from my own ward and
local government? It's impossible.
"How could people have voted for APGA and they are writing
a different result? That's why I like what INEC at the
headquarters is doing; it will restore people's confidence in
the system.
"T.A Orji should emulate President Goodluck Jonathan and
concede defeat so that peace will reign in the area. If
President Jonathan with all the powers at his beck could
concede defeat, why shouldn't T.A Orji?" While thanking the
outgoing President for his statesmanship by not allowing the
blood of innocent Nigerians to be shed in the pursuit of self-
satisfaction and urge for power, he called on President
Jonathan to call to order one of his ministers, who he said
had been using the military and other agencies of
government to rig elections in the state and also intimidating
opposition party members.
He also called on the chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega
and other stakeholders to ensure credible polls on Saturday,
alleging that they have obtained reports on the plot by the
PDP to hire thugs from Abala Ibeme in Obingwa LGA and
Rivers State to unleash mayhem on Abians in the nine local
government areas of Ngwaland, set the famous Ariaria
International Market ablaze as well as cause confusion
among voters on the day of the election.
He also alleged of an ongoing thumbprinting of fake ballot
papers in an undisclosed location in Ngwaland, plans to rig
the election among other hidden agenda including the
planned mass arrest of APGA senior officials a few days to
the governorship poll.
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