THE returning officer [RO] for the Abia North in last Saturday’s
Senatorial election, Dr. Chukwugozie Ihekwuaba has said that he did not
declare any result for the election which INEC has published.
According
to Ihekwuaba, who alleged that he has been receiving threat calls since
after the election said he could not in his good conscience append his
signature on the documents said to have been presented to him as the
result.
Addressing journalists in Umuahia Thursday evening,
Ihekwuaba said that there was widespread manipulation of the National
Assembly elections in the zone which prompted him to recommend a re-run
of the senatorial election in the zone.
He said apart from
results from Arochukwu and Ohafia Local Government councils, which were
recounted at the INEC state headquarters, results from other councils of
Bende, Isukwuato and Umunneochi were manipulated and he disassociated
himself from them.
He claimed that fake INEC documents such as result sheets were filled and later substituted with original ones.
In
Ohafia council, according to him, there were massive irregularities
which prompted youths and hoodlums to take over the place with sporadic
shooting renting the air.
The protest against the Ohafia and
Arochukwu result led the INEC REC to set up a committee that recounted
the results of the two councils but results of the other councils where
more irregularities were alleged were not reviewed.
“After
looking at Arochukwu and Ohafia results, there was a massive
irregularity. Security operatives were also aware because they were also
taking their notes. So I found it very difficult to append my signature
on the manipulated results.
“My report to INEC REC was that we do a
re-run and get security operatives to guide the results so that whoever
wins will take it. In some cases, ballot boxes were removed. I am not
aware of any result declared. I did not declare any result.
“Apart
from Arochukwu and Ohafia council results which were recounted at INEC
headquarters, I did not accept any other result”, the associate
professor of Computer Engineering said.
When contacted, the
Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Prof. Selina Oko said she
has no constitutional power to cancel any election result or organize a
re-run.
According to her, she was under pressure from the INEC
headquarters to send the results to meet the seven days deadline and she
had no choice to send the results submitted to her.
She advised aggrieved candidates to take their case to the law court which is the appropriate place to seek redress.
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