2019: Umahi warns INEC against fake results

The governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi yesterday told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to adhere to the threat of writing fake results in 2019 general elections against the will of the people.

Governor Umahi who thanked INEC for a good job in just concluded Anambra governorship election, added that Nigerians are now wiser than they were hitherto.
He further noted that any iota of sharp practices in the forthcoming general elections means disfranchising the right of the people of the state, adding that all votes should count in 2019.

But against this backdrop would mean a threat to our nascent democracy which might lead to negative outcome from the masses.
Governor Umahi stated this at the State Executive Council Hall Abakaliki, when he received the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Godswill Obioma, where he led top management staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Ebonyi State to a visit at the state house.

“lf you denied anybody his right you are disfranchising the person. I’m happy with what the REC said that all votes must count in 2019.
“Some have boasted and said they would write results in Ebonyi state, but l told them, it is not difficult to write results, but write it
outside Ebonyi, because if you are going to write it in Ebonyi state, then it means you are going to write two results.

“One, your will, then, two the main result. This is how it’s going to play out because the masses have become wiser now, and as leaders we must gave account of our stewardship”,Umahi said.
Governor Umahi however tasked 13 council chairmen in the state to come up with strategies that would lead to collection of the remaining 50,000 Permanent Voters Card (PVCs)in the state.

Earlier, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, assured the state governor in sustaining the mandate of the commission ahead of 2019. Prof. Obioma however called on the state to assist the commission in the area of electoral awareness essentially in collection of the remaining PVCs and campaign for eligible voters to register ahead of 2019 elections.

Edward Nnachi, Abakaliki