By  Charles Kumolu

UMUAHIA – Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, has debunked claims that election materials meant for the deferred National Assembly elections in Abia State last weekend, were taken to Government House, Umuahia, by the State Resident Electoral Commission,REC, Mr. Austin Okojie

He also noted that the state REC had never made any courtesy visit to him, adding that  when the REC was confronted by newsmen on the development, he said it was the directive given by  INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, that RECs were banned from paying courtesy calls on state governors.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Kingsley Emereuwa, described the allegations as laughable.

He said:  “The attention of Abia government has been drawn to the routine false report to the effect that election materials meant for the deferred National Assembly elections in Abia State last weekend were taken to Government House, Umuahia, by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barr. Austin Okojie. As usual, Abia State government would have continued to ignore such reports for obvious reasons.

“ On the issue in question, it is common knowledge that the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Abia, Barrister Austin Okojie, since he assumed duties in the state, has even neglected simple courtesies of paying official visit to the sitting governor, and when he was confronted by newsmen on that unusual development, he said it was the directive given by  INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, that RECs are banned from paying courtesy calls on state governors.”