OGBARU PEOPLE PROTEST CANCELLATION OF HOUSE OF REPS RESULT

By NBF News

Tension has engulfed Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Anambra State as people of the area protest the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel result of the recently held House of Representatives' election.

Yesterday, hundreds of people of the area, including elders, women, youths and leaders of the various communities  stormed the state headquarters of INEC, Awka, begging the authorities not to tamper with the results of the April 9, 2011 National Assembly elections, as it concerned the federal constituency seat.

During the nationwide National Assembly polls, Victor Afam Ogene, ex-editor of The Source magazine and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the Ogbaru Federal Constituency was leading with a total of 9, 757 votes as against his closest rival, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered a total of 8, 048 votes.

Spokesman of the Ogbaru people, Chief P.N. Ogbulie, told officials of the commission that they were jolted by the news that the commission had cancelled the election in the federal constituency, hence their decision to protest the action.

'We are here because the news that INEC has cancelled the results of Ogbaru Federal Constituency has put our people into confusion. We are more worried because we are hearing that INEC cancelled the election because they said that the logo of one political party was omitted during the election, and are sure that the person who wrote the petition is never a candidate of any party in our area.'

Ogbulie called on the INEC to conduct a rerun election in Ogwu Ikpele ward, pointing out that only in the area was the election stalemated due to violence caused by thugs hired by members of one of the political parties. Ogbulie also warned the commission not to succumb to the antics of a self-styled political godfather in the state, who he alleged has been visiting their area, from his far away Uga country home, boasting to impose his stooge on the federal constituency.

Addressing the protesters on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commission (REC), the public relations officer of the commission, Mrs. Tonia Nwobi, accompanied by one of the legal officers of the commission, commended the people for conducting themselves peacefully.

She assured them that they would forward their complaints to the REC.