Protest erupts in Abuja over Abia guber poll

By Steve Oko

Abians have hit the streets in Abuja to protest the suspension of collation of governorship election results in the state.

They demand the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to declare the candidate of the Labour Party, Alex Otti winner of the contest having polled the highest number of votes in 16 out of 17 Local Government Areas so far declared.

Wawa News Global reports that the protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as ” Declare Otti winner”, ” We Say No to Rigging”, anong other.

Otti is leading his closest rival, Chief Okey Ahiwe of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with over 92,000 votes.

There has been mounting tension across the state as residents anxiously awaiting the final declaration of the result.

INEC had said collation which was suspended Monday, would resume by 4:00 pm today, Wednesday March 22.