Members of the group, Abia Women for Good Governance, ABWG, have taken to the street to protest what they described as alleged plot by the Indendent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the forthcoming 2019 general elections for some political parties in Abia State, Igbere To reports.
Speaking to Igbere TV, Tuesday in Umuahia, the group’s Convener, Mrs Stella Nwaohammuo called on the commission to remain independent, and conduct a free, fair and credible elections devoid of electoral violence.
She said the peaceful march was necessitated following the alleged report of already prepared result sheets in some quarters, even when the elections had not held.
Igbere TV reports that a middle-aged man was on Saturday in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, caught with already prepared result sheets which gave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state victory ahead of other political parties in the February 16 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
The poll was later shifted by INEC to February 23 over what they described as “logistics reasons” and “unfavorable weather conditions.”
Nwaohammuo, while speaking further, called on INEC and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that peoples vote count in Abia, while encouraging voters to come out en masse and vote their candidates of choice on Saturday.
She also warned all intending political thugs to stay away from polling units during the elections, and do away with snatching of ballot boxes.
According to her, the group, ABWG, is not for any political party, and therefore cautioned all political parties and actors in the state to do away with writing of (election) results “for peace to reign in Abia.”
Igbere TV gathered that the women who dressed in black attires matched to the Abia State headquarters of INEC in Umuahia, and other public places to make known their demands.
They were armed with placards with various inscriptions such as, “INEC please sit up, do not sell our votes”, “We say no to rigging of election”, “We need good and quality governance”, “Let our votes count”, among others.
