Following the suspension of the collation of results of Abia and Enugu states by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC ,Friends of the Labour Party governorship candidate in Abia State Alex Oti to release the results.
In a statement made available to Niger Delta Herald, by BEN-jamin Owuapu Willie and others on behalf of the UNIPORT “80s Alumni friends of Alex Oti and Alex Oti Support Group Worldwide , they expressed dismay over the abrupt stoppage of the collation..
The statement read:
INEC AND THE ABIA GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION RESULTS
“Today makes it three ((3) days after the conclusion of the Governorship/House of Assembly elections in Abia State, just like other states of the federation where elections took place.
“However, unlike all other states, the electoral umpire INEC, has held unto the results of the outcome of the election in Abia State where our dear friend, brother and compatriot Dr Alex Otti was coasting home to an overwhelming victory. Ditto for nearby Enugu State.
“INEC informed the world in a press release that the process of declaring the results in Abia was being suspended due to the invasion of their office in Obingwa on Sunday 19th March 2023, by suspected thugs who also held their officials hostage for hours!
“Their decision made sense to us like all other interested parties, and so we kept quiet. But events that have been playing out since yesterday are now giving us cause for serious concern. We think the process of review seems to be taking too long and is opaque, thereby leaving the candidates, especially Mazi Alex Otti, who already has a clear and unassailable lead, and his supporters in a state of anxiety.
“We therefore wish to inform the INEC Leadership that Mazi Otti’s numerous supporters, admirers, and associates all over the world are watching their activities very keenly.
“Finally, we are calling on the INEC Leadership to expedite the review process and move forward with the announcement of the outcome as the original results of all the local government areas, including Obingwa are already known to the world as captured on the INEC Server, after being uploaded at the various Polling Units by their Adhoc Staff, with all the various Party Agents possessing copies. We hope INEC as a supposedly independent body will do the right thing and expeditiously, too, in order to douse the unnecessarily generated tension in Abia State and beyond. ”
Signed: NIGERIA: BEN-jamin Owuapu Willie Eustace Odunze Uloma Saya-Braide Emeka Wigwe
UK Soala Edwinson Iyalla Kobi Emmanuella-King
USA Rita Poroma Oteh Dafiaghor
FOR:UNIPORT 80’S ALUMNI FRIENDS OF ALEX OTTI
*ALEX OTTI SUPPORT GROUP WORLD WIDE*