Kalu petitions Jega over Abia election

Former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged the Chairman of the Independent Nation­al Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to investigate the case of alleged impersonation of INEC officials during the National Assembly election in Abia State.

In a petition addressed to Jega and signed on Kalu’s behalf by K. C. Nwufo (SAN) and Associates, he said the election was inconclusive and invalid by reason of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provision of the Elec­toral Act.Kalu, who contested the Abia North Senatorial Dis­trict on the platform of the Progressives Peoples Alli­ance (PPA), said the election was flawed with irregularities and impersonation and urged Jega to investigate the issues raised.

The petition read in part: “The said Abia North Sena­torial District comprises five local governments with the Ohafia local government headquarters designated as the headquarters of the dis­trict, while one Dr. Ihekweaba Chukwugoziem, an associate professor was appointed the returning officer by INEC.

“The returning officer discovered palpable irregu­larities and corrupt practices in many of the results from the said local government areas. Both security agents and INEC members of staff in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, recorded these irregu­larities.

“Consequently, a commit­tee was set up by the Abia State Resident Electoral Commissioner, whereupon the committee discovered to its chagrin, numerous irregu­larities in the results which showed that the results could not have originated from the field of election. The commit­tee delved into the exercise of investigation to fish out those involved in the corrupt practices and irregularities and further to ascertain the extent and effect on the entire process and the appropriate action to be recommended to the resident electoral com­missioner and the returning officer.

“The said exercise of the committee continued up to the first day of April 2015, and as such, the returning offi­cer neither collated the results nor declared any of the can­didates winner. The returning officer was thus shocked to be informed that he had declared one of the candidates as win­ner of the election.

“As an associate professor, who has his reputation and integrity to protect, the return­ing officer quickly deposed to an affidavit at the Federal High Court, Umuahia, refus­ing making any declaration on April 2, 2015.

“It is in the light of the fore­going that we have been con­sulted to write this petition for you to use your good offices to investigate this matter with the seriousness it deserves. The culprits, who are mem­bers of staff of INEC and their cohorts should be fished out and brought to book with the offences of impersonating the returning officer under Sec­tion 122(2) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

“It is pertinent to note that it is the sole duty of the returning officer to declare the result un­der Section 68 of the Electoral Act. We acknowledge your admonition to the world to ignore any result not declared by the returning officer and so the action of the said persons purporting to announce and declare a result when they are not the appropriate returning officer of the said election is calculated to spite you and to bring the good reputation of INEC to public ridicule. This should not be condoned and they must be made to face the legal consequences of their action to serve as a deterrent to others.”

source:Sun