In the governorship election held in Abia State on March 18, Dr Alex Otti, the candidate of the main opposition Labour Party (LP), is maintaining a comfortable lead in 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs), according to the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Otti polled a total of 66,024 votes to stay on top, while Chief Okey Ahiwe of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured a total of 52,849 votes in the affected 10 LGAs.
The results were announced by the various LGA Collation Officers at the State Collation Centre at INEC headquarters in Umuahia on Sunday. Results from seven LGAs are still being awaited.
The LGAs won by the ruling PDP include Isiala Ngwa North, the home LGA of its governorship candidate, Chief Okey Ahiwe; Ukwa East; Isiala Ngwa South, where the LP candidate, Dr Alex Otti hails from; Ukwa West; and Ugwunagbo.
Meanwhile, LGAs swept by LP include Umunneochi, Arochukwu, Isuikwuato, Ikwuano, and Bende. Below is how the major parties stand in the various LGAs:
In Ukwa East, LP got 2,273 votes, PDP got 2,329 votes, APGA got 646 votes, APC got 560 votes, ADC got 13 votes, and YPP got 759 votes.
In Umunneochi, LP got 5,940 votes, PDP got 3,198 votes, APGA got 581 votes, APC got 2,034 votes, ADC got 71 votes, YPP got 314 votes, and APP got 679 votes.
In Ukwa West, LP got 2,883 votes, PDP got 4,622 votes, APGA got 830 votes, APC got 1,209 votes, ADC got 130 votes, and YPP got 890 votes.
In Bende LGA, LP got 9,886 votes, PDP got 3,410 votes, APGA got 947 votes, APC got 2,143 votes, ADC got 459 votes, and YPP got 1,667 votes.
In Isiala Ngwa South, LP got 7,589 votes, PDP got 9,093 votes, APGA got 366 votes, APC got 1,580 votes, ADC got 39 votes, and YPP got no vote.
In Arochukwu, LP got 12,689 votes, PDP got 1,286 votes, APGA got 460 votes, APC got 1,082 votes, ADC got 24 votes, and YPP got no vote.
In Ugwunagbo, LP got 2,159 votes, PDP got 2,539 votes, APGA got 398 votes, APC got 398 votes, ADC got 11 votes, and YPP got no vote.
In Isuikwuato, LP got 8,228 votes, PDP got 2,204 votes, APGA got 3,662 votes, APC got 872 votes, ADC got 136 votes, YPP got no vote, and APP got 523 votes.
In Isiala Ngwa North, LP got 7,323 votes, PDP got 21,741 votes, APGA got 225 votes, APC got 839 votes, ADC got no vote, and YPP got no vote.
In Ikwuano, LP scored 7,054 votes, PDP scored 2,427 votes, APGA scored 499 votes, APC scored 1,098 votes, and ADC scored 261 votes. YPP scored no votes.
However, some Collation Officers reported that some polling units' results were cancelled following allegations of violence, rigging, snatching of ballot papers, and BVAS machine. This situation led to a delay in the collation process.
The State Presiding Officer and Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO, Professor Nnenna Oti, adjourned the collation process to allow for more results from the remaining LGAs to come in. The collation of results is going on under tight security.
Meanwhile, the collation process has been fraught with controversy, particularly in Isiala Ngwa North. The State Collation agent of the Labour Party, Hon. Acho Obioma, alleged that the over 21,000 votes scored by the PDP in Isiala Ngwa North were manufactured. As a result, the Returning Officer suspended the collation process.
However, after counter-arguments by the PDP Collation Agent, Charles Esomonu, the votes were later admitted after the Collation Officer, Dr Dozie Ndubuisi, re-presented them after effecting necessary corrections and reports of alleged incidents in the LGA.
The allegations of vote manipulation have caused concern among the electorate, and many are calling for a transparent and free election. The situation has also attracted the attention of election observers and the media, who have been closely monitoring the situation in Abia State.
It is not yet clear who will emerge victorious in the Abia State gubernatorial election. However, with Dr. Alex Otti maintaining a comfortable lead in the affected LGAs, it is becoming increasingly likely that he will emerge as the winner of the election.