In a move which could be described as the ‘mistake of the century’, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), certificates of return for State Assembly members elect in Abia state, bore the name of the loser of the State Assembly election in Umuahia South State constituency, Jerry Uzosike of the PDP.
Recall that Chijioke Nwachukwu of APGA was declared the winner of the Umuahia South State Assembly election, but the certificate of return sent to the state bore the name of Uzosike who was the runner up in the election.
While explaining the mix up at a ceremony handing over certificates of returns to 22 Assembly members- elect, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Abia state, Prof. Celina Oko, said “ the list we compiled bore the name of the winner in Umuahia South constituency as contained in the original result EC 8 (1). Where they got the name they wrote on the certificate we don’t know.
“I called the winner, one Mr. Nwachukwu, he didn’t take it lightly and wanted to crucify me. He and his party, APGA accused INEC in Abia of making the mistake. APGA even wrote me that I should postpone the handing over of certificate of return to other winners, but I told that I take instructions from the INEC headquarters, not from political parties.”
The REC further stated that beside the mistake in the name of the winner of the Umuahia South constituency, the winner in Isiala Ngwa South constituency would get his certificate of return at a later date as as a result of the fire incident which gutted the INEC office at council headquarters, Omoba.
The 22 members elect who received their certificate of return are; Emeka Nnamani (Aba North-APGA), Emmanuel Clinton Ebere (Aba South- APGA), Abraham Oba (Aba Central -APGA), Solomon Akpulonu (Obingwa East -PDP), Martin Okechukwu Azubuike (Isiala Ngwa North -PDP), Cosmas Ndukwe(PDP- Bende South), Luke Onyeani Ukara (Arochukwu-APGA), Okogbuo Chibuzo Solomon (Bende South- APGA), Ugboaja Theophilus (Ikwuano- APGA), Uloma Onuoha- (Isuikwuato-APGA), Thomas Nkoro(Obingwa West -PDP), Egwuruonu Obasi (Ohafia North-PDP), Uchendu Ifeanyi (Ohafia South- APGA) and Kennedy Azubuike Njoku (Osisioma Ngwa North -PDP),
Others include; Emeka Alozie (Osisioma Ngwa South-PDP), Munachim Alozie (Ugwunagbo-PDP), Paul Taribo (Ukwa East-PDP), Tony Mezie Nwaubani (Ukwa West-PDP), Chinedum Orji (Umuahia Central- PDP), Chukwudi Apugo (Umuahia East-PDP) and Kelechi Onuzuruike (Umuahia North-APGA).
With the development, the PDP has 13 members elect while APGA has 11.
