Abia Guber: Why INEC Declared the Election Inconclusive

The returning officer for the Abia State governorship election, and Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Professor Benjamin Ozumba last night declared the election in the state as inconclusive.

He based his decision, after two days of collation, on the fact that no clear winner emerged in the election held on Saturday in Abia State.

It could be recalled that the returning officer had cancelled the election in three local governments, the strong hold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he later reversed after the fresh facts emerged. The local governments were Osisioma, Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa North

He said that there were also irregularities recorded, in Ohafia, Ikwuano, Isiala Ngwa south and Aba South local government areas.

He, however, did not give a date for the rescheduled election in the units and wards affected by the irregularities.

Declaring the election inconclusive. , Prof Ozumba said,”It is apparent that the margin of win is not in excess of the total number of votes as required by the electoral regulation, therefore, there is no declared winner.”

Ozumba gave the margin of lead as 83,053 and the total of number of voters where the election did not hold as 179,224.

At the collation of the last result from Ohafia local government area, the PDP was leading with 248,459 followed by APGA with 165406.

He gave the number of registered voters for the election as 1,217,632 while accredited voters were 470,900.