Tragedy was averted at the Abia state office of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), as the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Prof. Selina Oko was attacked by the agents of the Peoples Democratic Party over the cancellation of some results of the governorship election.
Trouble started for the REC when she announced that the results from the four local government areas of Obingwa, Ugwunagbo, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma Ngwa has been cancelled due to irregularities that allegedly characterized the polls in the councils but the PDP agents could have none of that and started protesting that the decision would stand over their dead body.
The PDP agents led by the state secretary of the party, Barr. Charles Esonu protested that they could not understand why INEC cancelled election in the four councils where the PDP candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu won landslide.
The situation led to serious confusion with everybody shouting while some PDP agents were seen threatening the REC, but she was briskly whisked away by security agents.
“How can the REC cancel results from the PDP strongholds, we can’t accept this. Surely this is a plan behind but we can’t allow our party to be cheated. There is no cause for the REC to do what she did. We will not leave INEC until she does the right thing,” a PDP agent told our correspondent.
After about 30 minutes, the REC finally returned to continued with the announcement of the results and added that the decision has been reversed.
247ureports gathered that the decision almost sent the state on fire as a crowd of protesters, mostly PDP supporters had already gathered at the adjoin streets leading to the INEC office at Adelabu street. Tension was also building up in Aba, Obingwa, Ugwunagbo and Isiala Ngwa areas when news filtered in that the results of the local governments won by the PDP has been cancelled.
