20th March, 2023
By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Dr. Alex Otti seem set to finally realise his ambition of governing Abia as he has taken clear lead in the results of last Saturday’s governorship election in the state already declared.
However, the results were declared in the midst of allegations and counter-allegations of infractions, especially by the Collation Agents of Labour Party, LP and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Messrs Acho Obioma and Charles Esonu, respectively.
Also, the headquarters of INEC in a tweet on its Twitter handle Sunday afternoon, wrote that: “Thugs have invaded our Obingwa Local Government Area office in Abia State.
“Security agencies have been alerted.
“The Commission is monitoring the situation and will issue a statement shortly.
But Abia State Returning Officer, Prof. Nnenna Oti, has announced results from 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) at the heavily guarded state INEC Collation Centre in Umuahia before adjourning collation to Monday.
Otti who is the candidate of Labour Party in the election has polled 65,968 votes so far from the 10 local governments.
His closest rival and the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 53,042 votes.
The LGAs include Ukwa East: LP 2273; PDP 2329, Ukwa West: LP 2833; PDP 4622, Bende: LP 9886; PDP 3410, Isialangwa North: LP 7323; PDP 21,741.
Others are Isialangwa South: LP 7589; PDP 9093; Arochukwu: LP 12,689; PDP 1,280, Ugwunagbo: LP 2,153; PDP 2,538, Isuikwuato: LP 8228; PDP 2204, Ikwuano: LP 7054; PDP 2,427 and Umunneochi: LP 5940; PDP 3,198.
The state returning officer promised that all the results would be reviewed and determined against the backdrop of alleged infractions, including outbreak of violence, snatching of ballot boxes with the papers and manhandling of INEC officials in some LGAs, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Results from the remaining seven LGAs, including Obingwa, had yet to be brought to the Collation Centre at the time of adjournment.