Tension has pervaded Abia North following the reversal of results of the senatorial election believed to have been won by Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia State. Kalu, candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) is contesting against Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chief David Ogba Onuoha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Daily Sun gathered that in the senatorial election, Kalu led in all the communities as announced at the polling units, but in recording the results at the local government areas, his votes were either allocated to the PDP or results falsified to favour the ruling party.
In the polling booth of Ohuabunwa, in Atani, in Arochukwu, Kalu defeated the PDP candidate. He scored 20 votes to Ohuabunwa's 17 votes, while APGA garnered 13 votes.
It was gathered that in Arochukwu, Kalu scored 2, 000 votes to lead other candidates. But in the result, 12, 000 votes were recorded for Ohuabunwa.
In Isuikwuato, Kalu's 5, 800 votes, were discountenanced, and another figure recorded for PDP.
In Bende Local Government Area, PPA scored the highest votes, but PDP reversed the results.
Also in Umunnochi, PPA recorded landslide victory, which was overturned by PDP in the result sheet.
It was gathered that in Nkporo and Ohafia, Kalu led with about 20, 000 votes, but PDP reversed the scores in the result. Sources stated that in Nkporo, ballot boxes were snatched.
It was learnt that in Akanu Item, an aide of Governor Oji used thugs to brutalise people in a desperate bid to ensure victory for the PDP.
Daily Sun gathered that the falsification of the result became possible because at the collation centres, there were no result sheets since officials of the PDP had hijacked them.
Commenting on the development, a PPA polling agent told Daily Sun: "We were leading in all the communities and local government areas that make up Abia North, but the PDP reversed the results and recorded our votes for itself in some areas and allocated highest votes to themselves in other places. The PDP doctored the result in its favour."
The PPA agent commended soldiers for treating all parties fairly across the state in the elections, while saying that his party came first in the senatorial election, and PDP third.
Meanwhile, angry youths besieged the headquarters of Ohafia Local Government Area, where results of the senatorial and House of Representatives elections were to be released yesterday, threatening to go on rampage if falsified results were announced.
One of the youths said: "We are waiting for the release of the result. We have an idea of what the outcome of the polls will be. As far as voting in Abia North was concerned, PPA was coasting home to victory. In the communities, PPA won. We are here to ensure that the authentic result is released. We will not allow Governor T. A. Orji to take the victory of PPA for PDP."
The youth wondered why impunity would be the order of the day. He also lamented: "Is crime not punishable in Nigeria again?"
Meanwhile, the PPA and APGA have rejected results from Umunneochi, Isuikwuato and Arochukwu Local Government Areas (LGAs). They also rejected results from Ania ward, Eluoha ward, Agbaja, Eluama ward and Ettit Ama ward.
Sources revealed that following the falsification of results, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may cancel the entire result or declare the election inconclusive.
At the time of going to press, it was gathered that security agents stormed Ohafia council area headquarters, dispersed youths with teargas and evacuated the electoral officers to Umuahia, where the results would be announced. THE SUN
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