A chieftain of the Labour Party, LP in Abia State and House of Representatives member-elect for Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency, Chief Obi Aguocha has said that Abia is on a keg of gunpowder and will explode if the wrong things are done.
While reacting to the delay in announcement of winner of the Saturday’s governorship election in the state, the incoming House of Representatives member urged INEC to be firm and resolute in ensuring that they are not arm-twisted into doing the wrong thing.
Speaking with ABN TV on Tuesday, Aguocha said bigger states, including Lagos and Kano have since concluded their collation and announcement of result, blaming the desperation of the governing PDP whom he accused of attempting to win at all cost for the delay in announcement of results in Abia.
INEC had concluded collation on results in 16 out of 17 local government areas in Abia with the exception of Obingwa, the home local government of the outgoing governor Ikpeazu.
Aguocha accused PDP of inflating election figures in Obingwa, a local government he said has about 23,000 accredited voters in the Saturday’s elections but PDP is parading figures above 81,000 and 104,000 in separate result sheets, wanting INEC to validate the figures.
He said there is glaring over-voting in Obingwa as a result of BVAS bypass, calling on INEC to declare Labour Party governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Alex Otti winner of the election, having won 11 local governments with over 103,000 votes differential with his closest rival, Okey Ahiwe of the PDP.
He alleged that the alleged invasion of INEC office in Obingwa as well as hostage taking of the commission’s staff has the backing of the governor.
“I’m calling on INEC to be more cautious and circumspect about Abia State, Abia is on a leg of gunpowder right now and any little strike on it could have the state explode, if the wrong things are done.
“I am also calling on my friend, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu not to debase his name and office, he lost the election all round and I believe the governor should begin to plan to leave the stage gracefully and allow for a transition that will be for the betterment of Abia State”, he said.
