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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