Sen Ohuabunwa to INEC: Orji Uzor Kalu lost, demands re-run

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 senatorial poll in Abia North, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa says Dr Orji Uzor Kalu did not win at the polls.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a re-run election in the zone.

Ohuabunwa had in a press briefing in Umuahia, insisted that Orji, who is the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, was yet to be declared the winner of the election contrary to his claims and some media reports sponsored by him.

The senator said the Returning Officer did not declare anybody winner of the contest as the total number of cancelled votes was far bigger than the margin of victory.

“Announcing Kalu winner of Abia North Senatorial contest is a joke taken too far.

“The total number of cancelled votes is 76,889, while the margin of victory is 10,402.

“The difference between margin of victory and cancelled votes is 66,487. Can INEC validly declare a winner of that poll?, he asked pointing out that  the Returning Officer merely announced figures and number of votes secured by each candidate and never declared Orji winner.

Orji, Ohuabunwa said had out of desperation and quest for power inflated figures in his favour, adding “Bende LGA result did not emanate from the polling units as no results were declared at that level.

“All results in Bende should have been cancelled but the Returning Officer was forced at gunpoint to declare the result for House of Representatives even when he noted 7,601 cancelled votes which were more than the margin of 3,547 and he fled afterwards to Umuahia where he issued a statement calling for the cancellation of what he declared.

“Arochukwu (Senator Mao’s home LGA) recorded 31,284 cancelled votes with 72 of 149 Polling Units cancelled.

Ohuabunwa urged members of the public not to be deceived by Orji’s claim that he was returned at the poll, insisting that INEC must conduct a re-run.

However, when contacted, the Head, INEC Voter Education & Publicity, Achibie Chigozie, said he was not in a position to say whether or not result was declared.

He said Ohuabunwa knew where to direct his grievances.