There was tension in the Abakaliki/Izzi and Ohaukwu/Ebonyi federal constituencies of Ebonyi State as angry supporters of the Labour Party (LP) took to the streets to register their dissatisfaction.
The protesters alleged that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission tampered with the result of the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections in the state in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.
Over 100 supporters of the party on Monday stormed INEC headquarters in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State, demanding that the results that were allegedly awarded to the candidates of APC be cancelled.
NIGERIACRIME observed that the angry protesters displayed placards with different inscriptions with some of them reading: “Say no to rigging,” “The power of the people is greater than the people in power,” “INEC should not play with our destiny,” and “Democracy is not a dictator’s sport.”
Other inscriptions include: “Give us our victory,” “Let democracy reign,” “Say no to corruption,” “Our votes must count,” and “Say no to rigging.”
Speaking to newsmen, the protesters, who conveyed their messages through the candidates of the Labour Party, for Abakaliki/Izzi and Ohaukwu /Ebonyi federal constituencies, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians, in general, to prevail on the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ebonyi State to do the right thing.
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The LP candidates aspiring to represent the state at the National Assembly, Emmanuel Eze and Prince Chibueze Agbo alleged that “bad elements in INEC are trying to manipulate our results.”
Eze said, “The election results from Abakaliki/ Izzi federal constituency are yet to be declared up till now. They kept mutilating the results.
“This is 48 hours after the election has been conducted. They are manufacturing figures and we will not agree. The Electoral Officers for Abakaliki/ Izzi and Ohaukwu/Ebonyi federal constituencies should tell us how much they have collected to frustrate the wishes of the masses.
“I’m the candidate of LP for Abakaliki, Izzi federal constituency who won overwhelmingly. INEC must announce our results because Labour Party, LP, won the election.”
On his part, Agbo, who is contesting for Ohaukwu, Ebonyi Federal Constituency, said, “Nobody is happy with what is happening in Nigeria today. But I’m happy that the masses are giving the Obidient movement massive support everywhere.
“Those few bad elements in INEC that are trying to thwart the wishes of the masses will never succeed. I know, together we will get our mandate, and victory back. They (INEC) should not take the masses for granted. It’s better to allow the electoral revolution to prevail than violence.”