Speak up on Abia now, group urges Jega

A socio-political group,  An Abia for All (AAA) has urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to break his silence on the current political logjam in Abia State and make a categorical statement.
The group described the April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Abia as a rape of the electoral process in the state.

In a statement jointly signed by Comrade S.O.B Igwe and Ihuoma Ufughi, Leader and Woman Leader respectively, the group accused some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders  in the state of invading the collation centre, abducting the state resident electoral commissioner and the returning officer and compelling them to reverse the cancellation of the polls in some local government areas.
The AAA leaders described the alleged action of the PDP members  as   a rape of the democratic process and undue interference in the activities of INEC.
The returning officer, they alleged, had cancelled results for Isiala Ngwa North, Osisioma and Obingwa local government areas, citing widespread malpractices, violence, and ballot box snatching after  reports of independent foreign observers that monitored the exercise. They claimed the  returning officer reversed himself shortly after the meeting with PDP chieftains.
“We consider their action a rape of the process and undue interference in the activities of INEC, which is supposed to be an independent umpire.post by expdonaloaded.blogspot.com
“INEC rules of engagement for the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections of April 11 are that only card readers should be used for accreditation. That where the card readers malfunction, they will be replaced before 1p.m. on the same day.
“Where they cannot be replaced, elections will be shifted to the next day, to provide another card reader. It is on INEC database that in the three cancelled local government areas, no card reader was used. Could it be that over 600 card readers malfunctioned? No card reader simply means no election in the said areas,” the statement read in part.
The returning officer, they said, had no powers to reverse himself as only the court or tribunal could do that.
Consequently, they called on Prof Jega to make a categorical statement on the issue, urging that it is either elections in the affected local government areas remain cancelled or there should be a total re-run in all wards of the local government areas. This they said would not only prevent the total breakdown of law and order in the state but also ensure that people of the affected areas are not disenfranchised.