The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reaffirmed the victory of former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, in last Saturday’s National Assembly elections, Igbere TV reports.
Igbere TV reports that the commission had on Sunday, February 24 declared the Igbere-born politician winner of the Abia North senatorial election.
Announcing the final results, the INEC Returning Officer for the zone, Dr. Charles Anumudu said Dr. Kalu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 31,208 votes to defeat Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 20,801 votes and the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s David Onuoha-Bourdex 11,410 votes.
The declaration was made at the INEC Collation Centre in Ohafia Local Government Area of the State.
Reaffirming the victory, the INEC’s Returning Officer, Charles Anumudu on Thursday, in response to a rumor by the PDP on social media against Kalu’s victory, said any other report aside the earlier declaration is false and baseless, and blasted Ohuabunwa for spreading what he termed “fake news” to cause mischief.
Also speaking, a principal officer at INEC headquarters, Umuahia, who does not want his name mentioned, described such reports as unfounded, malicious and fake.
He also clarified that the commission (INEC) lacks the power to reverse election which has already been declared.
According to him, only the election tribunal or court of competent jurisdiction can make such pronouncement.
He, therefore, advised Ohuabunwa and other aggrieved parties to approach the court for a redress.
Meanwhile, the Orji Uzor Kalu’s media office has lampooned Mr Ohuabunwa for misleading the general public with what they termed “fake news”, which according to them, has become the trademark of the Abia state PDP.
In a statement made available to Igbere TV on Thursday, the media office wrote, “Upon declaration of the results by the designated returning officer, we expect all contestants to accept the results in good faith or seek redress in the court of law.
“We are by this statement advising the general public to disregard the malicious and fake news being circulated by the PDP candidate and his cohorts.
“While expressing our gratitude to the people of Abia North for their unflinching support for Kalu and the APC, we urge members of our party to remain calm and steadfast.”
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