Abia North: Gov. T.A. Orji Wants to Steal Orji Kalu’s Victory – PPA

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, PPA chairman, Chief Peter Ameh said there are reports that their candidate won the election but that the governor has pledged to frustrate the party,

“I wish to address you and indeed the Nigerian nation on the manifest electoral fraud being orchestrated by Governor Theodore Orji in collusion with INEC to deny/rob our great party of our electoral victory in Abia North Senatorial District.

“His Excellency, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu contested for Abia North Senatorial District under PPA platform. Reports from various pooling centres in the Senatorial District attest to the victory of our candidate over others. However, it is speculated that Governor Theodore Orji has vowed that he will do all that is within his power to frustrate the electoral victory of Chief Orji Uzor Kalu”, he said.

He said the PPA is not concerned with the personal rivalry and show of might between Theodore Orji and Orji Uzor Kalu.

“We are however concerned and interested in our electoral victory. We will do all that is legal therefore to ensure that we are not fraudulently denied of our just victory.

He said  there are substantial compliance by the presiding officers at the various level as it relate to Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, during the election.

“However, on the dictate and unconstitutional influence of Theodore Orji, the returning officer for Abia North Senatorial District has refused to announce the election of our candidate contrary to the provision of section 27 (2) (e) of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended. Taken together, section 27(2)(e) provides:

“The Returning officer shall announce the result and declare the winner of the election at; Senatorial District Collation Centre in the case of election of the senate”.

He said that while results for presidential election which covers the entire country was announced on the 31st March 2015,  that of Abia North Senatorial District which covers only a region of Abia State could not be announced 5 days after the election.

“PPA has worked with INEC since its registration and very closely with the incumbent INEC chairman. We are thus not in doubt of INEC’s credibility. It is our believe, that the introduction of card readers into the electoral process is, to curb electoral malpractices and engender electoral certainty.

“We hope therefore that INEC will not through any of its corrupt officers allow itself to be used by any person/s for personal vendetta and rubbish the credibility the commission has through this election, achieved for itself”, he said.