By Charles Kumolu

Labour Party senatorial candidate for Abia North,  Chief Chukwuemeka Noel Okorougo, has challenged the victory of Senator Uche Chukwumerije, who contested on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Okorougo, a former PDP member, who defected to LP after losing out at the primaries, said the election was manipulated and rigged to favour Chukwumerije.

Okorougo noted that the reasons advanced for the election of Chukwumerije, to ensure Senate Presidency and Igbo presidency, were misleading.

He said: “I am not willing to comment yet on the National Assembly elections that I won with simple majority of the votes cast. But INEC declared Chukwumerije the winner after manipulations, especially by PDP.  The same political feudal lords of Abia who intervened for Chukwumerije at the PDP party primaries still went ahead to brazenly deploy state machinery to deny the people the right to choose their senator.

“I have refused to comment on the general election, but I will do everything possible within the limits of the constitution to reclaim the mandate of the people- if it is the will of God.”