General Elections: Result delay raises questions on INEC’s credibility – CLO

February 25, 2019

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Aba Chapter Chairman of Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Dr Charles Chinekezi has decried the delay in the collation and announcement of 2019 presidential, house of representative and senate results.

Chinekezi who said the situation was fuelling apprehension and raising questions concerning INEC’s ability to conduct credible election during an interview with our reporter in Aba on Monday.

He said the delay in the release of the election results, would instead of giving the results a stamp of credibility; make the electoral umpire and its election results questionable.

“Never, the delay will even help in doctoring the results, because as long as you and I know, this election is not free and fair election.

“All these delays will help those doctoring the figures, the documents and the reports and taking the information to certain people at certain places, that is the situation. Make no mistakes about it.

“The heat on INEC is not because they are getting things right, but because the Nigeria politician is naturally vicious and desperate, because he is an African politician, who has no value and who does not bother about the credibility of process and processes.

“They have crooks among themselves that is why they are having problems. It is because INEC have people who have no credibility that is why we are finding it hard getting the right results of an election”, he said.

Chinekezi said that Nigeria’s electoral process would never be free, fair and credible with the practice of secret ballot system because Nigerian politicians are always desperate to win elections at all cost.

He said that having corrupt INEC operatives, Nigeria’s only option to getting credible leaders who can change things through credible elections would be only by option A4 open ballot electoral system.

The CLO Chapter chairman condemned the lackadaisical attitude of government and its agencies towards the prosecution of electoral offenders stressing that there is the need to start the process now.

“Nigeria has failed in prosecuting people who commit electoral crimes and it has become a norm here.

“And until we begin to apprehend and punish people who commit electoral offences, we are in for a more terrible time. We need to start now with this level of mayhem unleashed on Nigerians by political thugs across the nation leading to many deaths”, he said.

He said that Nigeria’s elections would never cease from being rancour-free until the country could slam right punishments on electoral offenders, their sponsors and parties where necessary.

He noted that in United States of America, South East Asia, India and other developed countries, have higher populations and locations to cover than Nigeria, but do not report the kind of problems Nigeria reports during elections”, he said.

Abia APC wants Abia central senatorial election cancelled, removal of REC

February 23, 2019

By Ijendu Iheaka

The All Peoples Congress (APC) in Abia on Saturday called for the cancellation of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in Abia Central Senatorial District.


The party also called for the immediate removal of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Joseph Iloh.


The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Ben Godson, made the call while briefing newsmen in Aba on the party’s reservations about the exercise in the state.


He alleged that the electoral process was compromised, adding that Illoh compromised by allowing Sen. Theodore Orji, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for Abia central, to visit him in his office.


He said: “As we know, today in Nigeria is the presidential and National Assembly elections.


“As I speak to you, we are calling for the cancellation of the senatorial election in Abia central.


“One of the major reasons APC is calling for the cancellation of the election is that at about 12:20 pm today (Saturday), Orji visited the REC.


“He spent over 30 minutes with him in his office. He sat with REC who is in charge of elections in the state.


“Thereafter, REC led him to the door, hugged him and shook him with two hands to show loyalty.


“We are therefore calling for his immediate removal and sack as Abia REC,” he said.


Godson also complained that ballot papers brought to Ukwa East had no party logos, adding that materials for the Senate were incomplete in Umuokoroaja in Obohia wards.


He alleged that some thugs besieged Obohia town hall and carted away result sheets that were brought to the centre for the elections.


He further demanded that other areas in Ukwa west, where voters were allegedly chased out of their polling units with the help of the police, should also be cancelled and rescheduled.


APC also called for the removal of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ene Okon, for allegedly failing to provide adequate security in most polling centres in Ukwa where there were skirmishes.


Godson said that some voters were intimidated, leading to voter apathy in most areas, adding that a unit with 100 registered voters only recorded 5 votes.


Reacting to the allegation of compromise, the REC admitted that Orji came to his office along with APC and APGA members to complain that election materials meant for their wards were yet to be delivered to the polling centres.


He said: “They came because election started late in their area. Of course, APC members were also with him. They were all united in harassing me for the delay.


“You see all these politicians they are bad people. When they go outside they become enemies but when they are attacking one person they become one.”


Also, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Godfrey Ogbonna, has dismissed as baseless the allegation that policemen chased away voters.


Ogbonna said that the command was not aware of such a development, adding that police could not chase away voters, except they were miscreants trying to foment crisis.

“What they are talking about is not to my knowledge. The Police cannot chase away voters if they are not miscreants.

“We deployed policemen to all polling units where elections took place in Abia. If anybody is saying the contrary, let him bring proof.

“Politicians should know how to help ensure peace in our society. They should not be saying what they have no proof of,” Ogbonna further said. 

Ikpeazu suggests e-voting to ease voters’ stress

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Saturday called for a shift from the current manual method of voting in elections in Nigeria to electronic voting system.

The governor made the call after voting at his Unit 002, Ward 7, Obingwa Umuobiakwa, Obingwa Local Government Area in the Presidential and National Assembly polls.

Ikpeazu, who voted at 10.50 a.m., said that the crowd at the polling unit waiting under the sun to take their turns to vote would be unnecessary if e-voting was adopted.

According to him, the sufferings of the voters will be reduced if science and technology can be introduced into the system.

The governor expressed worry over the possibility of INEC accrediting the large number of eligible voters awaiting voting before 2 p.m., and called for speed in the process.

“I think we should think more in the direction of science and technology.

“I don’t know why ballot papers cannot be generated locally or even provided and then a voter can call for the ballot papers through a computer and vote rather than standing under the sun.

“Why shouldn’t we do it digitally?’’ he said

On late arrival of materials which led to the delay in commencement of polling in most parts of the state, Ikpeazu said, “I really sympathised with INEC which has to provide logistics for all polling units.

“It is not an easy thing. We really need to reform because this process is becoming cumbersome.

“As long as you have human elements around, it makes it problematic in terms of fidelity.”

On the outcome of the elections, he said that everybody involved in the contest must first have the credentials of a democrat, adding that the outcome of the elections should be accepted by all contestants.

“Whatever people say through the ballot must be binding. Do or die and desperation around this time is not the way to go,” the governor said.

Two decomposing corpses cause concerns for Aba residents

February 20, 2019 

By Ijendu Iheaka

Residents of Aba, the economic hub of Abia, have expressed concern over the two decomposing corpses that presently littered some streets in the city.


Two armed robbery suspects were allegedly lynched and burnt to death by angry mobs on Saturday and Monday.


Speaking on the unhealthy development on Tuesday, the people said that they could no longer cope with the stench emanating from the corpses.

They called for the quick intervention of the relevant authorities in Aba North Local Government Area in removing the corpses.


The corpses were lying at the SAMEC Junction and Uche Street in Eziama at the time of filing the report.


They said that the situation could constitute health hazard to those living or doing business in the vicinity, if not urgently removed.


They said that some residents had already relocated temporarily out of the area, while some business premises had remained closed since Saturday.


A resident, Mr Ikedi Onyejiaka, regetted that the remains of the suspects were left “to rot away on the street, not minding the health implication.”


Another resident, Kingsley Okorie, said that the decomposing corpses portrayed the local government authorities as “insensitive.”


They appealed to the local government authorities to take urgent steps to evacuate the corpses to avert an epidemic in the area.


Mrs Ngozi Ochor, the Head, Aba North Environmental Health Department, said that her office only got to know about the unhealthy development a few hours ago.


Ochor said that she had written to the police for the permit to evacuate the corpses.


She said, “The health implementation of the situation on the residents is enormous.


“When the air and our environment are polluted, the reality is that our health is at risk.


“If corpses are not disposed off from our streets, our environment becomes uninhabitable and extremely hazardous.


“They contaminate almost everything around us and expose both the young and old to danger. “Disease carriers like flies will perch on them and move to contaminate everything around, including food.


Ochor, who said that he did not encourage crime, admonished Aba residents against taking the law into their hands.


She said that robbery suspects should be handed over to appropriate authorities for the law to take its full course.


“They should hand over criminal suspects to the police rather than kill them and leave their decomposing corpses on the streets,” she said.

No fewer than six suspected criminals had been lynched and burnt to death by irate mobs in the commercial city within the past two months. 

Abia PDP organizing secretary resigns

February 20, 2019

By Ijendu Iheaka

Mr St. Moses Ogbonna, the Organising Secretary of of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia, has announced his resignation from his position.

Ogbonna communicated his resignation in a letter dated Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, addressed to the state party Chairman, Sir Johnson Onuigbo, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Aba.

Ogbonna cited “brazen acts of impunity” which, he said, had led to total neglect of the State Working Committee and State Exco of the party” as part of the reasons for his resignation.

He further pointed to the “usurpation” of the duties of his office by the state chairman.

“My decision was reached upon my painstaking review of the relationship between me, the Governor of the state, His Excellency. Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu and the state Chairman Sir Johnson Onuigbo.

He noted that over the period the duo had “consistently exhibited loss of confidence and trust, culminating in a deliberate and unconstitutional usurpation of my duties with impunity.

“This brazen act of impunity has led to total neglect and abandonment of the SWC and State Exco of the party.

“The party is now being run as a one man show and every important decision, including on financial matters and ratification of the results of the people, including delegate elections were done in a hotel without the approval of the SWC.”

Ogbonna said the situation had degenerated to the extent that the party still owed over six months stipends payable to Exco members and staff of the party without any efforts to pay, despite repeated demands.

He said that the staff of the party had been abandoned to suffer untold hardship, resulting in the abandonment of the party secretariat.

The legal practitioner claimed that he had been made a scapegoat due to his outspokenness against this impunity and imposition, which had also led to series of threats to his life.

He also alleged that the party was now being run as a one man show hence every important decision was being taken in a hotel without the approval of the SWC.

“I, as organizing secretary, has been excluded in everything that is being done in the party.

“Every message to the National Headquarters that needed to emanate or sent by my office was done by the chairman.

“I, therefore, regretfully opt to resign my position as the state organising secretary of the Abia PDP with effect from 18th February, 2019.”

“I wish the party and other suffering exco members well in their future endeavours,” he said.

Nineteen members of the SWC had removed Onuigbo on Nov. 27, 2018, for allegations of imposition of candidates, impunity and usurpation of office.

He was later reinstated in December 2018 after the intervention of some key party stakeholders who said that the issues resulting in his sack had been resolved.

Calls put through to Onuigbo for his reaction were not answered while that of the state PDP Spokesman, Don Ubani was switched off.

Mob burns suspected robber to death in Aba

February 18, 2019

By Ijendu Iheaka

An angry mob lynched and burnt a suspected armed robber who was among a gang of seven that invaded Eziama area  in Aba Monday morning and robbed the residents.

The Abia State Police command confirmed this on Monday through its Police Public Relations Officer, SP, Geoffrey Ogbonna.

It was learnt that the incident occurred at Uche Street in Eziama, Aba North LGA in the early hours of Monday.

Ogbonnaa said “We go the information this morning that a gang of seven armed robbers attacked the residents of Eziama, Aba and robbed them of their household properties which included televisions, palmtops, mobile phone and other properties.

“The hoodlums armed with machetes and locally-made guns, left after they thought that they had succeeded.

“But luck ran against one of them who was caught by the irate mob and they burnt him to death.

“We are nosing around to find out the identity of the burnt suspect because when things like this happen, people will be skeptical to talk to the police.

Ogbonna said that the police had launched an investigation to discover both the identity of the suspect and those who killed him instead of turning him over to the police.

The Abia State Police PRO noted that the command had been warning people not to take laws into their hands in any circumstance but to report any matter to them for proper resolution.

 .

“If they had caught him and handed him over to the police, we would have extracted some helpful information from him that could lead to other gang members but now that they have killed him, it becomes more difficult”, he said.

He said that the properties the robbers forcefully took from their owners at gun point had been recovered

Election Postponement: INEC to implement fresh security measures for distributed election materials - INEC Official

February 16, 2019

By Ijendu Iheaka

Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Head of Public Affairs, in Abia State, Mr Bamidele Oyetunji on Saturday said INEC would implement fresh security measure to protect distributed election materials.

 According to the Public Affairs head, the commission had distributed some materials across 17 local government areas of Abia prior to Saturday’s election before it was postponed.

Oyetunji disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday after the INEC Chairman, Prof Yakubu Mahmood announced the postponement of the 2019 presidential elections.

He said that the commission would implement further security measures to ensure the materials now at the local government area ONEC office are not be tampered with.

“We told them to bring back only the card readers while the other materials will be in their custody.

“The materials are very safe, we are going to fortify our security systems”, he assured.

Oyetunji said that in Abia the election materials except the result sheets had earlier moved to the INEC offices in the various local governments in preparation for the election.

He enjoined journalists to help open the mind of Nigerians to enable them understand the challenges of the commission and the need which led to the postponement. 

He said it was better to give Nigerians credible elections than a half hazard and doubtful one adding that commission had been battling some logistics challenges before now.

“Nigerians will understand when you journalists open their hearts and their minds that this is the situation we find ourselves in.

“From six months ago, we know that we had challenges, look at the time they passed the budget and when they released money.

“So we had logistics and operations problems of which we cannot just go on with the elections today”, he said.

This blog reports that in Abia state, the list of ad-hoc electoral staff in the local governments were not released in some local government areas like Osisioma LGA until midnight of Friday.

Reacting to the postponement, the Chairman, Aba branch of Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Aba Dr Charles Chinekzi said the postponement was the height of leadership irresponsibility.

  "The sudden announcement by INEC and Federal Government show their unseriousness towards meeting the vision of our nationhood.

“It is unbelievable that up till midnight when everyone, government agencies, security agencies, local and international media house were still talking about elections, suddenly INEC announcement the postponement of election. 

"They have just demonstrated leadership irresponsibility and leadership criminality and Nigerians are not going to just swallow.

“For me I urge everyone to remain calm, calculative, vigilant and alert because this is our country and no one will make it better for us.

“On that 23rd of February, we shall still vote according to our conscience and our votes must count”, Chinekzi said.

Monday Nwanganga, a resident said God knows why He, God allowed it adding that some people had bad intentions for today’s election.

“He knows why he allowed it so that today is calm and cool and everyone with evil intentions concerning today have retreated with them.

“People who would have rigged the elections today have become paralysed and for those using their money to do it, the money they have spent today will now be a loss to them and they cannot bring such out again. We say let there be peace in Nigeria”, he said.

Ngozi Ebewe, an INEC ad-hoc staff at Osisioma local government said “This is a very big disappointment for Nigerians.

“Fixing an election which the country had been preparing for for almost three years now and coming to postpone it at the dying minute is very painful.

“They did not shift it by a day but by a whole week. For ad-hoc staff in Osisioma, the INEC office pasted their list by some minutes past 12 pm so that those people who applied and came to check their names could not go home to sleep.

“We are expected to sleep over again at the office next week. This does not show Nigeria has progressed. The nation should work on itself because this shows that it is behind even some African nations”, she said.

Ugochukwu Ahunanya, a Tricycle driver said the postponement was shocking to him because he slept yesterday having prepared to go vote on Saturday only to wake us and hear the news.

 He lamented that the day was wasted for him and other residents stressing that next week, their family had scheduled the burial of their late brother hence no election will stop the burial.

“And by next week when they shifted it to, we have the burial of one of our brothers and shifting that burial will cost us much, so we must bury him that day. You can see for us no election”, he said.

He urged the government should get their acts right for another time’s sake and save Nigerian the huge embarrassment and losses this had caused them.

Methodist Church urge members to vote upright young Nigerians with good agenda

February 13, 2019

By Ijendu Iheaka

Methodist Church Nigeria has charged its members and Nigerians to vote for young and upright politicians with good agenda that would make the nation better in Saturday’s election.

It also urged them to look away from the name of political parties and discover young persons with ideas that would develop and place the nation on the path of progress and vote for them.

The Methodist Church Nigeria Conference Secretary, Rt. Rev Michael Akinwade gave the charge in an interview with our reporter on Wednesday.

“In terms of making sure that we do not continue to deceive them (young people) by saying they are the leaders of tomorrow. When will tomorrow come?  

“We want them to be part of administrations and the government should make sure that they are part of the administration of the country.

“We are encouraging our members if they see any young person who has the right agenda that will benefit the country to support and vote such a person”, he said.

He said that church was not interested in any party but is interest in young individuals who would solve the problems Nigeria is facing now.

He said Nigerians should go to the pools on Saturday and vote according to their conscience.

“They should not sell their conscience; they should not sell their vote. They should make sure that they vote according to their conscience and ensure to do everything possible to protect their votes.

“We are not calling for violence, but please protect your votes”, he counseled.

The Methodist Prelate, His Eminence, Samuel Uche, had said in August 2018 at a conference in Aba that the church would mobilize support for young and upright Nigerians aspiring to political leadership in 2019.

PVC Collection: Youth Corps member to be punished for taking bribe

February 8, 2019

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Osisioma Local Government INEC Electoral Officer, Mr Chijioke Ude on Monday swore to deal with a Youth Corps member caught taking bribe from residents seeking to collect their PVCs.

Ude who was away for a meeting at Umuahia at the said time, after getting the identification of the youth corps member said he would deal with him for dragging the name of the office in the mud.

Newsmen in Aba who went to monitor the distribution of cards at the local government received complaints from residents that they were being extorted by INEC staff at the local council.

The newsmen then waited and watching for evidence, saw the youth corper collecting N200 note from a resident before giving her her PVC.

When the corper was asked if he knew he was committing an offence, he threatened the reporters and bragged that they could do nothing to him.

Mr Nnanna Nwokocha from Okpulu-Umuobo ward 10, Mrs Agwuncha Nkechinyere and Alaoma Agommuo from Umuagbai ward 8 complained of coming severally without success.

They blamed INEC for having the desire to disenfranchise them adding that they will not be happy if they were stopped from voting after making concerted efforts to vote.

At Aba South local government council, residents complained also of demand for money before their PVCs could be given to them by some staff of INEC.

Residents said they were being subjected to a very clumsy process of searching for the cards in order to force them to part with money.

Many registered voters were seen leaving the INEC premises in anger as officials kept telling them that they could not find their PVCs.

Mr Arukwe Godswill said he had visited the office four times to collect his PVC but had not received it stressing that “the distribution is slow-paced because the officials are not willing to give the cards to their owners thus causing people pain”.

In Aba North, Local government council, the Electoral Officer, Mr Chuka Achumie said the process was moving on without hitches.

He said he does not know if there would be another extension of collection date but stressed that the unclaimed cards will be returned to the INEC headquarters on Tuesday barring any changes.

At the local government, residents were seen collecting their PVCs without being asked for money although many complained of having visited the office severally without getting their PVCs.

Onwuma Sunday from Aba North expressed happiness for having collected his PVC after several days of visit and many hours of waiting, but described the process as “very clumsy and stressful”.

Internal crisis: Group urges FG to consider peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms

February 8, 2019

By Ijendu Iheaka

Awake and Defend Action Movement,(ADAM) a Pro-Eastern Nigeria pressure group on Friday urged the Federal Government to seek peaceful means of internal conflict resolution rather than using military solutions.

The group gave the advice in a statement issued in Aba on Friday and signed by its interim chairman and secretary, Ndubuisi Igwekani aka Agubiafra and Chief James Ekpo.

The statement said that government resorting to military options in internal affairs would increase youth violence, extremism and militancy.

According to the group, military solutions “create room for youth violence and extremism and give them opportunity to massacre our people”, hence the need to avoid it.

ADAM’s statement was coming on the heels of a military-civilian clash in Aba on Wednesday which left three civilians reportedly injured with bullet wounds

ADAM said that they would oppose any arrangement that would bring about the unnecessary death of Eastern youths in Igboland henceforth.

The group further urged the Federal government to muster the courage to restructure Nigeria in a way that would guarantee the safety and security of all Nigerians anywhere in the country.

It however, warned youths of Eastern extraction to desist from criminal acts such as “kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, yahoo-yahoo, gambling, prostitution and child-trafficking” and violent behaviours.

It also condemned the act of using Voo-doo to get rich quick which act they said was increasing now in the region stressing that “it will not be business as usual” any longer.

“Now for the political class from Eastern Nigeria, ADAM hereby call upon all our elected politicians from state governors, legislators and all elected office holders to be accountable to the people of Eastern Nigeria.

“Henceforth, ADAM will monitor every Federal Government and international development partners project assigned to Eastern Nigeria and will henceforth expose every evil and corrupt practices in Eastern Nigeria.

“In this 2019 election, we are calling on all Easterners especially the youths to actively participate in the election according to their conscience.

“Knowing full well those who have performed in the past or those who have the potential to perform according to the trust of the people”, they said.

The group faulted Ohaneze Ndigbo’s alleged endorsement of Atiku Abubakar stressing that it could create political problems for the Igbo people hence the need for the cultural group to stop meddling in politics.