Victor EzejaThe Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abia State Chapter on Monday countered the statement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that its office in Obingwa Local Government Area was attacked.
Barrister Charles Eseonu, PDP Agent-in-Chief, 2023 Governorship Election in a statement said that the INEC statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information And Voter Education Committee of INEC Barrister Festus Okoye, is not true, claiming that such did not happen.
The statement from INEC reads, “As Nigerians are aware, the 2023 General Election is approaching its concluding stages. Arising from the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on 25th February 2023, the Commission promised Nigerians that there will be improved processes during the Governorship and State Assembly elections held yesterday, Saturday 18th March 2023.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“Earlier today, the Commission alerted the nation to the invasion of our Obingwa Local Government Area office in Abia State by thugs during the collation of results for the Governorship and State Assembly elections.
“In contention was the collated result from the Registration Areas for the Governorship election in that Local Government Area. The intention was to force the collation of these contentious results. The behaviour of these thugs is unacceptable and there will be a thorough review of the results.
“The Commission does not take the patience of citizens for granted and will continue to take steps to protect the integrity of the vote and consolidate the progress so far in the electoral process.”
Reacting, the PDP said INEC was raising false alarm, adding that what happened was that party agents at Obingwa collation centre only insisted that INEC should comply with its directive that results must be announced at polling units, collated at ward and then local government levels and result sheets issued to agents.
Eseonu accused INEC of bypassing the guideline which was being resisted. He expressed shock that INEC went ahead to issue a statement claiming that its office was invaded by thugs when nothing of such happened.
The statement read: “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has been drawn to a press statement released by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information And Voter Education Committee of Independent National Electoral Commission ((INEC) Barrister Festus Okoye, in Abuja yesterday, which stated that the Obingwa Local Government Area office of the Commission in Abia State was attacked by thugs during the collation of results for the Governorship and State Assembly elections of 18th March 2023.
READ ALSO: Abia Guber Polls: We’ll Review Results Of Obingwa LGA Invaded By Thugs – INEC
“While we find such claims strange, we wish to set the records straight and state as follows: that there was no recorded act of violence in Obingwa LGA of Abia State before, during and after the election of March 18, 2023.
“That Party agents at Obingwa collation centre only ensured that INEC’s directive that results must be announced at units, collated at ward then local government levels and result sheets issued to agents be complied with.
“We were shocked that INEC is attempting to bypass her own recommended process and even falsely released a statement to members of the public to achieve that.
“Youths of Obingwa should rather be commended for insisting that INEC followed her own guideline as previously stated by Barr Festus Okoye and other national officials.
“It is important to note that the results of the same election from Umuahia South LGA, which were taken to INEC headquarters for collation changed dramatically along the way in favour of one of the parties involved in the election.
“We, therefore, implore INEC to do the right thing by not raising false alarms but to announce the results as collated in Obingwa.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
Follow Us