As Abians wait eagerly for the outcome of the gubernatorial election result which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared inconclusive following some reported cases of violence, the People’s Democratic Party’s candidate, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is likely to emerge winner.
The announcement of Saturday’s gubernatorial election results in Abia stalemated midway on Sunday and extended to Monday following the reversal of the results of three local government earlier canceled by the Returning Officer, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba.
Ozumba had adduced “incontrovertible evidence of violence”, reports from international observers and fresh information concerning the conduct of the election as the reasons for the cancellation of results from Osisioma, Obingwa and Isialangwa North Local Government Areas.
According to him, polling centers with issues would be isolated and decisions taken on them later.
But few hours later this decision was reversed after Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji led some PDP stalwarts in Abia State to consult with the Resident Electoral Officer (REC), Prof. Selina Oko and the Returning Officer, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba.
The Abia State commissioner of police, Mr. Habila Joshak had in a hand-written note alleged that some electoral materials recovered by his men from the bush in Osisioma were in the police custody.
This however, corroborated with the submission made by Ms. Shirle Wilson from Noble Leadership Initiative, United Kingdom that election in Osisioma was marred by violence and snatching of ballot boxes and other electoral materials by political thugs.
This submission then heighten tension at the INEC collation, forcing the Returning Officer to halt further announcement of results, called for cancellation before reversing his decision after the Abia State governor visited INEC.
The disputed result from Osisioma, had scored PDP 42,442, as against APGA’s 1017 before that of Obingwa which gave the PDP candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu highest number of votes in the region of About 80,000 was brought in.
The controversy however made INEC to declare the election in Abia State inconclusive pending the conclusion of investigation.
As it stand the PDP gubernatorial candidate, will likely be announced winner of the election if INEC decides to stick by the figures in its position or the worst case scenario call for a run-off election in the affected local government.
But the opposition party, APGA is not having any of these as they insisted that the election should be canceled outrightly.
Going by the constitution and the electoral Act, which state that “if the difference between the canceled votes was higher than the margin between the first and the second person, election should be declared inconclusive and a run-off held.”
If that be the case in Abia State, then their will definitely be a run-off
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