by Innocent Onyeukwu
As the outcome of the political war between the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) over the Oguta re-run election in Imo state, continues to ignite tension in the state, the electoral umpire, INEC, yesterday, pointedly blamed politicians in both parties in Imo state for the inconclusiveness of the polls.
The electoral body, which was called upon by Governor Rochas Okorocha to declare the APGA candidate winner of the election, said unless the safety of INEC staffers is guaranteed, there would be no further election. INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega on Tuesday in Abuja during the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Meeting organized by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) said that the Oguta re-run election was a very bad election because politicians involved decided to make it so. “We will not conduct the election unless the safety of our staff is guaranteed. When the atmosphere is right, we will go there and conclude the election. We cannot subject the lives of our staff to jeopardy. They must guarantee the safety of our staff.”
He said unless those participating in the election guaranteed the security of INEC staff, the election would remain inconclusive as the commission was not prepared to put the lives of its workers in jeopardy.
“We will not conduct the election unless the necessary thing to do is to declare it as inconclusive. The election is a very bad election” the INEC boss declared.
Jega said on reasons why the election was botched: “There were polling units where election did not take place due to violence. After tabulating the results, it was discovered that a candidate scored 9,000 plus while another had 7,000 plus. There are about 4,000 votes at polling units where election has not taken place. That can sway the result.”
“In the circumstance, the necessary thing to do is to declare it as inconclusive. The election is a very bad election because the politicians decided to make so.”
The Oguta re-run election was declared inconclusive by the electoral body. The declaration sparked off a fierce exchange of political words between the ruling APGA and the PDP in the state, thus polarizing the political class in the state.
Governor Okorocha had alleged that a “phone call” from above compelled INEC in Imo not to declare results of the election, insisting that APGA candidate, Walter Uzonwanne be declared winner of the polls.
The PDP fiercely reacted; saying acts of violence in the election was orchestrated by APGA which deployed various unconventional methods to manipulate the election.
