I didn’t declare Abia North Senatorial zone result – Returning Officer

I didn’t declare Abia North Senatorial zone result – Returning Officer

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The Returning Officer 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.