The candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC at Saturday’s bye election for the Aba North/South Federal Constituency, Hon Mascot Uzor Kalu has declared that he will call for the repeat of the elections owing to widespread reports of violence and vote buying that took place during the election.
Hon Kalu, who made this statement at Eziama High School, Ward 01 Unit 014, while speaking to journalists, revealed that he has credible reports that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state engaged in massive vote buying at some polling units in the Aba metropolis while violence disrupted voting in some other units.
He listed some of the affected voting units as Abia Polytechnic and Item Hall as places where voting buying and other electoral malpractices took place
“We have reports of malpractices at Abia Polytechnic and massive vote buying at Item Hall” he said.
On his chances at the election which official results are yet to be announced, Hon Kalu expressed optimism of the APC carrying the day but admitted that it will be down to the will of the electorate.
He said; ” We had a vigorous election campaign and are hopeful we will emerge victorious but it is the people that will decide at the end of the day”.
He also denied reports of that his party, the APC used soldiers to disrupt voting in some wards, noting that the military were only called to areas where there were reports of electoral violence.
The Aba North/South Federal Constituency seat became vacant owing to the death of the Honourable Member representing the zone, Hon Ossy Prestige in Germany on February 6, 2021 at the age of 56.
Polls have placed the candidate of the PDP, Chimaobi Ebisike as the overwhelming favorite to win the election.