By Ugochukwu Alaribe

ABA—Following the declaration by the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, that results of the chairmanship election in the  December 17 council polls will be announced at the local government secretariat a day after the election, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abia State chapter, has demanded the immediate announcement of the result of the polls at the electoral wards across the state.

In an interview with Vanguard on APC’s plan for the polls, state Chairman of the party, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa, said his party is worried by ABSIEC’s declaration that results of the election would be announced at the council headquarters a day after the election instead of the same day of the poll and added that such would create room for manipulation.

Nwankpa urged the chairman of the ABSIEC, Justice Igbozuruike Akomas to ensure that his agency  delivers a credible election which will be acceptable to all political parties.

He said, “As far as APC is participating in the Abia state council polls, result of the polls must be declared at each polling unit. The councillorship will be declared at the ward, the chairmanship election will be declared at the local government secretariat. All of them on the day of the election. Any postponement will give room for manipulation of the results. If they are not ready to conduct this election, they should continue with their transition committees and hands off. ABSIEC must obey the law, we won’t accept anything less.”

The chairman further urged the Police and other security agencies in the state to be neutral and transparent to ensure that the results of the December polls reflect the wishes of the people of the state and boasted that the party was going to sweep the polls as far as it based on one man, one, one vote.

“We have prepared well for the election and efforts are in top gear. We urge the Police and other security agencies to remain neutral. ABSIEC must be willing to follow electoral procedures and avoid announcing results for the ruling party. We urge ABSIEC to be neutral, transparent and to ensure that the results will truly reflect the wishes of Abia electorate.

For us as a party, we are very sure that we are going to win with a good margin because we have the grassroots support base across the 17 local government areas in the state.  The large turnout of candidates being witnessed by the APC is a clear indication of the acceptability of the party in the state and also shows that the party has grassroots followership.”