Abia North senatorial poll : Why INEC must conduct a re-run , Ohuabunwa insists
* Says Kalu’s purported victory, ‘a huge joke’
By Steve Oko
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the February 23 senatorial poll in Abia North, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to reschedule a re-run election in the zone.
Ohuabunwa insisted that the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu was never declared winner of the poll contrary to his claims and some media reports sponsored by Kalu.
The senator said the Returning Officer did not declare anybody winner of the contest as the total number of cancelled votes was far bigger than the margin of victory.
“Announcing Kalu winner of Abia North Senatorial contest is a joke taken too far”, Ohuabunwa told The AUTHORITY in Abia.
“The total number of canceled votes is 76,889, while the margin of victory is 10,402.
“The difference between margin of victory and canceled votes is 66,487. Can INEC validly declare a winner of that poll? He queried.
Ohuabunwa said the Returning Officer merely announced figures and number of votes secured by each candidate but never declared Kalu winner.
He alleged that Kalu out of desperation and quest for power inflated figures in his favour , while demanding the cancellation of the results of the polls manipulated by Kalu.
“Bende LGA result did not emanate from the polling units as no results were declared at that level.
“All results in Bende should have been canceled but the Returning Officer was forced at gunpoint to declare the result for House of Representatives even when he noted 7,601 canceled votes which was more than the margin of 3,547 and he fled afterwards to Umuahia where he issued a statement calling for the cancellation of what he declared.
“Nkporo in Ohafia LGA recorded 21,360 canceled votes in 32 units of two Wards; precisely Ndi Elu – 15 and Ndi Agbo – 17.
“Arochukwu (Senator Mao’s home LGA) recorded 31,284 canceled votes with 72 of 149 Polling Units canceled.
“Elections were canceled at polling units inside Abia State University, Uturu in Isuikwuato LGA with about 19,563 registered voters disenfranchised. That was more than the margin of victory of 3,708 votes recorded for the LGA.”
Ohuabunwa urged members of the public not to be deceived by Kalu’s claim that he was returned at the poll, insisting that INEC must conduct a re-run.
However, when contacted, the Head, INEC Voter Education & Publicity, Achibie Chigozie, said he was not in a position to say whether or not result was declared.
He said Ohuabunwa knew where to direct his greviances.
Meanwhile, the following results were announced by INEC for the five LGAs that make up Abia North Senatorial district:
“UMUNNEOCHI LGA
APC = 5,496
PDP = 5,613
APGA = 2, 609
“OHAFIA LGA
APC = 5,523
PDP = 4,861
APGA = 4,247
“ISUIKWUATO LGA
APC = 8,317
PDP = 4,609
APGA= 1,792
“BENDE LGA
APC = 10,701
PDP = 4 875
APGA = 2,232
“AROCHUKWU LGA
APC = 1,166
PDP = 843
APGA = 528
“GRAND TOTAL
APC = 31,201
PDP = 20,801
APGA = 11,410
Others = 1,110″
End
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