Abia APC rejects delay in local government election results

The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has rejected the one-day gap between the local government elections in the state and the announcement of the results.
The Chairman of the party, Donatus Nwankpa, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Aba on Wednesday that there was no need for the delay.
Nwankpa said that the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission should reverse the decision to announce the results of the elections a day after the balloting.
He demanded the immediate announcement of the results of the polls at the electoral wards to ensure free and fair elections.
Nwankpa said his party was worried by the commission’s planned delay, adding that such a gap would create room for manipulation of the results.
He called on the Chairman of ABSIEC, Justice Igbozuruike Akomas, to ensure that his agency delivered a credible election acceptable to all political parties in the contest.
Nwankpa said: “As far as APC is participating in the council polls, the result of the polls must be declared at each polling unit.
“The councillorship will be declared at the ward, the chairmanship election will be declared at the local government secretariat.
“All of them will be declared on the day of the election.
“Any postponement will give room for manipulation of the results.
“If they are not ready to conduct this election, they should continue with their transition committees. ABSIEC must obey the law, we won’t accept anything less.”
The chairman further urged the police and other security agencies to be neutral and transparent during the December 17 polls.
Nwankpa called on them to ensure that the results reflected the wishes of the people, noting that the APC would win a landslide if one-man, one-vote was allowed.
He said: “We have prepared well for the election and efforts are in top gear.
“We urge the police and other security agencies to remain neutral.
“ABSIEC must be willing to follow electoral procedures and avoid announcing results for the ruling party.
“We urge ABSIEC to be neutral, transparent and to ensure that the results will truly reflect the wishes of the electorate.”