Abia PDP Makes U-turn, Vows To Challenge Guber, Assembly Election Results

Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, resolved to challenge the results of March 18 governorship and state Assembly elections results, especially in six councils, where it stated the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines were not used.

The state PDP Vice Chairman/Acting Publicity Secretary, Elder Abraham Amah, who announced the resolution in a statement, said the decision was taken at the meeting of the State Enlarged PDP Working Committee (SWC) and State Executive Committee (SEC), but did not state the six councils in question.

He stated that the SWC and SEC, during the meeting, “reviewed results after collecting all materials used in the conduct of the just concluded governorship and state Assembly elections, and decided to go to court to challenge the results, especially in six councils where the BVAS machines were not used.”

According to the party’s Spokesman, the decision is coming on the heels of members of the Labour Party (LP), who have taken PDP candidates declared winners, to court despite honest and wise advise, as well as appeal of the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, that those who have been declared winners of the election, including the Governor-elect, Alex Otti, should be spared the burden of litigation, which only serves to distract public officers from performing their duties and responsibilities.

Amah said: “Abia PDP is shocked to note that at a time arrangements are being made for seamless and peaceful transition to the new government, it is the same LP, which was declared winner, that is trying to torpedo the process.”

While the party called on the people of Abia to remain calm, peaceful and steadfast as it works to reclaim its mandate, the Publicity Secretary indicated that, subsequently, the legal department of the Abia PDP will release details of its petitions in the next 24 hours and head to the Election Petition Tribunal to challenge the declaration of Otti as the winner of the governorship election.