The candidate of the All Progressive Congress for the Aba North and South Federal Constituency, Mascot Uzor Kalu, has stated that his party chose life over bloodshed and therefore, lost the election.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chimaobi Ebisike was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with total votes of 10,322 while APC had 3573 votes in the bye-election which held on the 27th of March, 2021.
A press release signed by Mascot accused the PDP of flooding the party with thugs numbering about 20,000 and also threatened traders to stay away or lose their lives.
He urged all Nigerians to support the amendment to electoral laws as it would assist the country in strengthening its democracy.
The Abia bye-election was held following the death of late Honourable Ossy Prestige, who was the member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency.
Read the full press release below;
“March 27, 2021, Aba North and Aba South Federal Constituency by-election are over, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC), we appeal to our members to accept the outcome of the elections in good faith while appreciating them for making the Party stronger in Abia.
While the opposition wanted the election at all cost, we chose life over bloodshed and therefore won lives and lost the polls. To us, that was a greater victory.
The level of thuggery, violence and rigging that occurred in the election calls for a deeper review of our electoral laws. Every country is peculiar to its people, all Nigerian should support the electoral laws that are being amended as it would assist us in getting our democracy strengthened. The electoral laws as it is renders the security agencies with arms weak in the face of violence at the polls and therefore needs a revisit. Granted that the armless police should be inside the polling units, the armed should be within fifty meters away from the units.
Our opponents flooded the city with thugs numbering over 20, 000. Traders were threatened with text messages to keep away or lose their lives.
My campaign officers and our Party agents were kidnapped, even the Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Prof Joseph Iloh was manhandled by thugs at the Aba polytechnics.
We campaigned vigorously and Aba people were expectant of improvement for them what the late Ossy Prestige of blessed memory did. My only concern ithe s that the Aba people lost. They lost a quality representation and chance to have added infrastructures in Aba.
We were winning in more than 400 polling units and they kept using thugs to harass the INEC officials and scare our others. Our voters ran for their lives. In a city with over 497,000 voting strength, less than 15,000 votes were recorded in the entire election.
I commend the INEC and security agents who were overwhelmed and I congratulate them for their services and the risk they took to protect the citizens.
I also thank the National Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Committee, His Excellency, Gov.Mai Maa Buni, Aba North and South Party Chaifaithfulall our faithful for their support in the election.
Even though we have enough evidence to reclaim our mandate, we won’t be going to court. This is to allow the declared winner to concentrate and provide good representation and infrastructure to the good people of Aba.
Once again I thank the Aba people for coming out en masse to vote for the APC and I congratulate the inner Chimaobi Ebisike and the PDP, not because they won but because it’s a gentleman to do so.
Signed;
Hon Mascot Uzor Kalu
Candidate, All Progressives Congress (APC)
Aba North /South Federal Constituency
28/03/2021”
