-Anietie Udobit, Abuja
A coalition of Civil Society Organizations and Stakeholders in Abia North Senatorial District, has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to include Abia North Senatorial District in the scheduled April 15 supplementary Polls.
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The group in the petition, which was written to the Chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, urges the electoral body to consider the post-election outcry and protest by indigenes of the Senatorial District on account of disenfranchisement and perceived ‘deception’ and compromise by the officials of your Commission.
It reads; “This Petition becomes necessary following:
“The post-election outcry and protest by indigenes of the Senatorial District on account of disenfranchisement and perceived ‘deception’ and compromise by the officials of your Commission.
“The Report by the accredited INEC Election Observers, which affirmed that the Senatorial election that took place in Abia North on 25th February, 2023 was below the standard and acceptable electoral practice, contrary to INEC electoral Acts and guidelines, and against the wishes and expectations of the electorates/constituents.
“That the INEC returning officer after noticing some irregularities and logistic challenges on the election Saturday being 25th February 2023 announced to the observers, party agents and others in Ohafia, after consultation with the Resident Electoral Officer in Umuahia, that there will be a rerun election on Sunday 26th February, 2023 in some places in Abia North where elections didn’t hold but The Elections never held till date.”
The Coalition said election didn’t hold in over 100 polling units with over 80,000 registers; “That from the report from INEC accredited Observers, election didn’t hold in over 100 polling units across the under-listed LGAs in Abia North Senatorial districts with over 80,000 registered voters.
“There was total violation of electoral guidelines in the conduct of the Election in Abia North Senatorial district such as not counting and announcement of result open by the presiding officer at the polling units, not posted of result in the polling units; not transmitting the result online at the conclusion of voting to the INEC Result viewing (IRev) portal”, the petition said.