APGA alleges plans by PDP to rig elections in Abia
*Condemn INEC over election shift
By Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia
The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) says, it has uncovered a grand design by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia state to rig elections in the state. Addressing newsmen Sunday, the party’s state Chairman, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, whose signed address was read by the state Deputy Chairman, Chima Onyekwere said the PDP plans is executed are capable of denying Abia people the opportunity to exercise their rights and may also trigger a chain of violent events. The party alleged that a certain man identified as Gaius was arrested somewhere in Umuahia by the police for being in possession of INEC sensitive documents and already completed result sheets that gave PDP victory ahead of Saturday’s aborted elections. “Upon interrogation by the police, the suspect claimed. that the documents, which included prepared result sheets and Gov. Ikpeazu’s letter-headed papers belonged to his boss, Chinenye Nwogu, special assistant to Ikpeazu on youth and the point-man on N-Power in Abia state,” the party said. APGA added that it learnt from very reliable sources within the Abia government that the plot which involves high profile government officials is intended to be executed through the following strategies; use of fake military uniforms already procured and stockpiled at a secret place, use of army-branded Hilux vans for thugs in military uniforms, invasion of strategic election centres, and plot to attack INEC officials who may refuse to compromise. Other allegations include, bribing officials with not less than N1billion to secure original critical sensitive INEC result sheets, selecting all INEC collation officers from University of Agriculture Umudike to announce the fake results, burning of INEC offices and inducement of electoral officers. The party reasoned that the popularity of APGA governorship candidate, Dr. Alex Otti and Ikpeazu’s rejection by Abia people was why PDP wants to rig the election and called on Abians to be more vigilant. They urged INEC to reorganize its offices in the state, while calling on the military as well as other security agencies in the state to be on red alert.
