A press release jointly signed by BEN-jamin Owuapu Willie, Eustace Odunze, Uloma Saya-Braide, Emeka Wigwe in Nigeria, Soala Edwinson Iyalla, Kobi Emmanuella-King in the UK, Rita Poroma, Oteh Dafiaghor in the USA for and on behalf of UNIPORT 80’s Alumni Friends of Alex Otti and the UNIPORT 80’s Alumni Friends of Alex Otti, has asked INEC to release the results of the outcome of the election in Abia State held on March 18th, were Alex Otti was coasting home to victory.
“Today makes it three ((3) days after the conclusion of the Governorship/House of Assembly elections in Abia State, just like other states of the federation where elections took place.
“However, unlike all other states, the electoral umpire INEC, has held unto the results of the outcome of the election in Abia State where our dear friend, brother and compatriot Dr Alex Otti was coasting home to an overwhelming victory. Ditto for nearby Enugu State.
“INEC informed the world in a press release that the process of declaring the results in Abia was being suspended due to the invasion of their office in Obingwa on Sunday 19th March 2023, by suspected thugs who also held their officials hostage for hours!
The group stated that, INEC’s explanation in a press release that the process of declaring the results in Abia was being suspended due to the invasion of its collection centre in Obingwa made sense initially hence they kept quiet. However, the group noted that events that have been playing out since yesterday are now giving them cause for serious concern.
“Their decision made sense to us like all other interested parties, and so we kept quiet. But events that have been playing out since yesterday are now giving us cause for serious concern. We think the process of review seems to be taking too long and is opaque, thereby leaving the candidates, especially Mazi Alex Otti, who already has a clear and unassailable lead, and his supporters in a state of anxiety.
“We therefore wish to inform the INEC Leadership that Mazi Otti’s numerous supporters, admirers, and associates all over the world are watching their activities very keenly.
“Finally, we are calling on the INEC Leadership to expedite the review process and move forward with the announcement of the outcome as the original results of all the local government areas, including Obingwa are already known to the world as captured on the INEC Server, after being uploaded at the various Polling Units by their Adhoc Staff, with all the various Party Agents possessing copies. We hope INEC as a supposedly independent body will do the right thing and expeditiously, too, in order to douse the unnecessarily generated tension in Abia State and beyond.
