APC Aspirants Demand Cancellation Of Ebonyi-Ward Primary Election Over Alleged Irregularities (Details)

APC Aspirants Demand Cancellation Of Ebonyi-Ward Primary Election Over Alleged Irregularities (Details)

Three aspirants for the Okpohsi Ward One Councillorship position under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have called for the annulment of the primary election held on Friday. The candidates—Igwe Frank Arinze, Ali Uchenna Ugadu, and Agbo Sunday Agbo—are urging the Chairman of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC), Barrister Josy Eze, and APC State Chairman, Stanley Okoro Emegha, to void the election results.

In a joint petition addressed to Governor Francis Nwifuru and copied to the APC State Chairman, the aspirants alleged that the election was marred by gross irregularities, intimidation, and violence, which they claim were orchestrated to impose a candidate on the electorate.

The trio reported that the councillorship primary election on May 31, 2024, at Community Primary School, Ndiagu Igube, Umuakpu Ngbo, was fraught with crises instigated by electoral officer Friday Onwe and his team. They accused Onwe of conspiring to commit electoral fraud by only counting votes for the incumbent councillor, Mr. Henry Okpe, while ignoring votes for other candidates.

“Despite our appeals to the electoral officer to count our votes, he declared that he was instructed to count only the votes for the incumbent councillor,” they stated. “Following this, thugs attacked our supporters, causing injuries and damaging property, including Igwe Frank Arinze’s car.”

The aggrieved aspirants implored Governor Nwifuru, EBSIEC Chairman Josy Eze, and APC State Chairman Stanley Okoro Emegha to intervene and prevent further escalation of the conflict. They condemned the violence and electoral misconduct, calling for the election results to be declared in favor of Igwe Frank Arinze, who they claim had the most supporters, or for the election to be annulled and rescheduled.

“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the survival and success of the APC in Ebonyi State,” the aspirants concluded.