Security agents aided PDP’s victory in Abia – SDP

By Sunday Nwakanma – Umuahia

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) says security agencies aided compromised election officials in Abia state to execute the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) plans during the governorship and state assembly elections in the state.

Addressing newsmen in Umuahia, the state Chairman of the party, Chidi Nwosu alleged that party agents were harassed, intimidated and not allowed access to collation centres.

Nwosu stated further that though the election commenced as prescribed by law, the election was characterized by ballot box snatching, harassment of voters by thugs, manipulation of results, collation officers were compromised and arbitrary figures were entered into result sheets.

He therefore, called on the Presidency and the National Assembly to “consider a comprehensive amendment to the Electoral Act with the aim of enshrining in the law, measures that shall eliminate these cancerous and perennial electoral dysfunctions in Nigeria’s electoral system.”

The SDP chairman described the integrity of the academics who worked as collation and returning officers as “nothing to be desired,” adding that some of the card readers “were already uploaded and fanned to be in bad working conditions.”

He regretted the actions of some SDP faithful who had negotiated with the PDP government in Umuahia for a spoon of porridge by factionalizing the party and weakening the chances of the party’s governorship candidate in the election.

The party accused one Ambassador Philips of attempting to factionalize the party “as barter for his land government had acquired. We therefore, consider him a threat to the peace and progress of our dear party.”

The party therefore, congratulated all winners during the elections and urged them to “offer good governance to alleviate the sufferings of Abians” and urged those aggrieved to seek redress at the election petition tribunals.