By Our Reporter, Abakaliki.
Three aspirants of Okposhi Ward one councilorship position under the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC has petitioned Governor Nwifuru Nwifuru of Ebonyi State to order the cancellation of the ward primary election held during the weekend.
The Ward Councilorship Aspirants including Igwe Frank Arinze, Ali Uchenna Ugadu, and Agbo Sunday Agbo also urged the Chairman of Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, EBSIEC, Barrister Josy Eze and APC State Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha to cancel the election, alleging gross irregularities, intimidation and crises characterized the exercise in alleged attempt to impose candidate on the electorate.
They made this known in their joint petition to Governor Nwifuru which was copied to the APC State Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha during the weekend.
The trio said they decided to notify the governor about the alleged crisis ridden councilorship primary election on Friday 31st May 2024 at Community Primary School, Ndiagu Igube, Umuakpu Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state, for appropriate action to be taken to avert further escalation.
They accused the electoral officer, Friday Onwe and his team of openly conspiring to cause crises during the election by aiding and abetting electoral fraud wherein after counting the votes of the incumbent councillor, Mr Henry Okpe, "they vehemently refused to count supporters of other aspirants."
The aggrieved aspirants said, their pleadings to the electoral officer to count their votes fell on deaf ear as he (Onwe Friday) declared that he was instructed to only count the incumbent councillor's supporters.
"Before we could say anything further, the thugs who were readily available for the eventual instruction, immediately descended on our voters who queued behind us and began to unleash mayhems on us.
"A Corolla car belonging to Igwe Frank Arinze was destroyed on the spot while many people sustained injuries as they were beaten up and stoned.
"Consequent upon the above, we cry unto the peace-minded Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt Hon Bldr Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the Chairman, Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, EBSIEC and the State Chairman of our great party to intervene in this matter to avert further escalation of the crises.
"We condemn in its entirety the heinous act meted on the unsuspected electorate and request that the result be declared in favour of Igwe Frank Arinze who had the longest line or in alternative cancel the election and fix another date and venue for a credible election.
"We reassure the party of our unflinching commitment to the survival and success of APC in the state," they added.
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