Reports in Umuahia, Abia State capital, indicates that the venue for the declaration of Governor-elect in Abia State has been shifted to Abuja, away from Umuahia.
The winner of the Saturday election will now be announced by INEC officials in Abuja, according to a source in Umuahia.
The decision to announce the result in Abuja, is to avoid the tensed situation in INEC headquarters Umuahia which delayed the announcement of guber results, 3 days after the conclusion of voting.
Among those believed to have moved to Abuja are Prof Nnenna Oti, the Returning Officer, Clement Oha, the Administration Secretary and other Returning Officers.
High ranking officials of the PDP and the Labour Party from Abia also jetted out to Abuja for a ‘final battle’.
INEC on Monday, shifted the collation of Obingwa results to Tuesday after controversies erupted in the state following alleged over voting and the invasion of Obingwa INEC office by political thugs.
The Commission announced on Monday that its team from Abuja was due in Abia on Tuesday to review results from Obingwa LGA and other some other areas of the state.
But in a bid to operate from a safe and convenient ground, the electoral umpire moved to the nation’s capital.
When contacted, the Public Affairs Officer of INEC in Abia, Mr Bamidele Oyetunji confirmed that top brass of INEC in Abia State ‘Travelled to Abuja for briefing”.
Bamidele refused to confirm if the guber results will be announced in Abuja or not.
Over 1,000 supporters of Labour Party who occupied INEC junction in the city, demanded that the candidate of the party, Alex Otti be declared winner of the election.
Also, some supporters of PDP’s Okey Ahaiwe were seen chanting that PDP defeated Labour Party in the election.
Policemen at the INEC/CBN junction had torrid times controlling the surging crowd.
” Please there is no need to protest here because they have taken the results to Abuja”, a Policeman was heard advising protesting Labour Party supporters.
