The Returning Officer for the Governorship Election poll in Abia State and Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Benjamin Ozumba, has announced the cancellation of election results in three of the 17 local government areas in the state.
The affected LGAs include Obingwa, Osisioma and Isialangwa North.
The Returning Officer cited reports of massive rigging, violence and incontrovertible evidence of irregularities as reasons for the cancellation.
He said reports of international observers available to him indicated that the exercise in the affected LGAs was marred with fraud, hence his decision based on the powers invested in him to nullify the polls.
Before the announcement of the cancellation mid-way during the collation of the governorship results on Sunday at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, only the result from Osisioma had been officially declared.
According to the result declared by the Returning Officer for the LGA, Professor Nnenna , the Peoples Democratic Party had scored 42,122 while the All Progressive Grand Alliance garnered only 1,017.
Before the announcement of the results, the agent of APGA at the state collation centre, Chief Ahamdi Nweke, had vigorously protested the polls in Osisioma , alleging widespread irregularities.
He said there was no election at all in the LGA, alleging that what rather took place were ballot paper snatching, shooting and violence which he blamed on PDP.
But in a counter protest, PDP agent, Chief Solomon Ogunji said the Returning Officer had no powers to cancel the result of the polls based on mere reports of international observers.
More results were being expected as of the time of filling this report.
Meanwhile PDP and APGA were neck to neck in four LGAs already declared.
PDP won in Isialangwa South and Ukwa East with 7133 and 4261 votes respectively as against APGA’s 5,686 and 3851.
APGA won in Umunneochi and Arochukwu LGAs with 7349 and 11,383 respectively while PDP scored 4320 and 3032 respectively.
The results were being collated amidst tight security. – Punch.
God bless APGA in the remaining LGA’s and our people should please Alex Otti yo emerge in the election..
He has capacity to take Abia to tge next level if elected and Nfigbo needs to rebuild Aba for Eastern Renaissance.
God bless APGA.I for ever,please Ndigbo in these LGA’s please bite fir APGA for the progress of Aba and entire Abia
We need change from PDP to a party with program and ideology Apga has done it Anambra state ,they will do it in Abia.
Oti has enough training education and experience to take Abia to Dubai of Nigeria.