INEC declares Abia governorship poll inconclusive

The INEC Returning Officer for Abia State, Benjamin Ozumba, has declared Saturday’s governorship election inconclusive.

Addressing journalists in Umuahia on Monday, Mr. Ozumba explained that the total number of registered voters in areas where elections did not hold or were cancelled was higher than the margin of difference between votes garnered by the candidate of the PDP, Okezie Ikpeazu, and that of the APGA, Alex Otti.

The affected polling units are in some parts of Osisioma, Ugwunagbo, Aba North, Aba South, Isialangwa South, Isialangwa North, Umuahia North, Umuahia south, Ohafia Arochukwu and Umunneochi Local Government Areas.

Before the election was declared inconclusive, the result accepted by the electoral officers showed the PDP candidate had polled 248,549 votes while the APGA candidate scored 165,406 making a difference of 83,053.

A total of 177,000 votes were cancelled in some polling units in the local government areas. The figure is greater than 83,053 votes which is the margin between Messrs. Ikpeazu and Otti.

Although the Electoral Act 2010 does not provide for “inconclusive” elections, it provides for postponement of an election as reflected in the marginal notes as well as actual provision of Section 26 (1).

Section 21 (1) says “Where a date has been appointed for the holding of an election, and there is reason to believe that a serious breach of the peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on that date or it is impossible to conduct the election as a result of natural disaster or other emergencies, the Commission may postpone the election and shall in respect of the area, or areas concerned, appoint another date for the holding of the postponed election provided that such reason for the postponement is cogent and verifiable.”

Below is the results already accepted by INEC from the 17 LGAs in Abia.

Isialangwa south:

PDP = 7133
APGA = 5686

Arochukwu:

PDP = 3032
APGA= 11383

Bende:

PDP= 5164
APGA= 14263

Aba north:

PDP= 6000
APGA= 24000

Isialangwa north:

PDP=19798
APGA= 6853

Ugwunagbo:

PDP= 17788
APGA=1022

Osisioma:

PDP= 42122
APGA= 1017

Ukwa East:

PDP=4261
APGA= 3140

Ukwa West:

PDP=9154
APGA=4890

Umunneochi:

PDP=4324
APGA=7349

Isiukwuato:

PDP=5913
APGA= 8275

Umuahia North:

PDP=18215
APGA=15752

Umuahia south:

PDP – 4,580
APGA – 5,973

Obingwa:

PDP =82, 240
APGA=1952

Ikwuano:

PDP= 2465
APGA =4295

Aba South:

PDP= 4871
APGA= 28823

Ohafia:

PDP= 11,729
APGA= 17,690

Total for PDP= 248,459
Total for APGA= 165,406