The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately release the results of the guber elections in Abia and Enugu States.
Dailygists reports that the electoral umpire in a statement by Festus Okoye, Its Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, had disclosed the decision of the body to indefinitely suspend collation of results in Abia state owing to the invasion of Obingwa Area Council’s collation centre by thugs.
The thugs held INEC officials hostage demanding announcement of altered results.
INEC similarly took the same decision on Enugu State, saying it would review results in about two local governments of the state and that of Abia state.
Reacting to the development, Obi, in a Press release on Tuesday damanded release of the results in those States.
He acknowledged INEC’s decision to review the results, but charged them to fast track the process, adding that continued delay in announcing the results would put a question mark on the credibility of the results.
According to him: “Having appealed privately on this matter let me do it publicly, for the imperative of releasing the gubernatorial election results of Abia and Enugu state immediately.
“I am aware that the INEC said they are reviewing the collation of the results in these two states. I like to urge them to accelerate their actions as the continued delay is questioning INEC’s intent and the credibility of the election.
“It is disheartening that the commission is unable to resolve whatever issues that are holding the release of the results. The records of elections from polling units should not be difficult to calculate if the electoral officials are committed to the integrity of the exercise, and the stipulated guidelines,” Obi said
