…EBONYI SPEAKER, CHIEF WHIP DEFEATED

Surprises trailed the Ebonyi House of Assembly primaries where the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Augustine Nwankwegu was defeated by his opponent and Chief Whip Mr. Uchenna Orji also lost to a woman, Barr. Lilian Igwe.

The primaries, which shifted to Abakaliki Township Stadium when it could not be concluded the previous day as a result of late arrival of materials however witness some fracas where the Vice Chairman of Ebonyi local government was manhandled by security agents even as the Electoral officer Prof Kabiru Manto described the primaries as transparent, fair and credible. He advised those who lost to see it as game where there should be a winner and a loser, adding that there is another day for any contest as nobody has any reason to complain.

The House which lost all its principal officers had only six members returned out of 24 even when those who lost were protesting that there manipulations and omission of aspirants' names in the ballot papers resulting in mass protest by the aspirant.

The Chief Whip of Ebonyi House of Assembly Mr. Uchenna Orji who spoke to Daily Sun lamented that there was manipulation to return his opponent and assured that he would protest to the party later.

Earlier during the previous day's conduct of the primary most of the aspirants, their supporters, party executive and other party faithful who were at the party secretariat venue of the primary as early as 8am for the distribution of electoral materials were disappointed when at about 2p.m election materials were still being distributed at the party secretariat.

As at 3pm, all the election materials were later distributed to the returning officers for the smooth conduct of the election. Most of the aspirant who expressed worry over the lateness of the distribution of the materials noted that it would take them more 3 hours to get to some of their constituencies before the conduct of the election would commence.

Worried by the situation the state Governor Chief Martin Elechi who monitored the election in the two constituencies of Ikwo Local Government area later went to the state party secretariat to ascertain the reason for the lateness of the distribution of materials.

He expressed concerned over the late distribution of the election materials stating that most of the places he visited, delegates were anxiously waiting for the materials to exercises their franchise and urged the party to ensure a credible polls.