On Monday, over 100 supporters of the Labour Party, LP, particularly in the Abakaliki/Izzi and Ohaukwu/Ebonyi federal constituencies, protested the alleged rigging, mutilation of election results, and collusion of INEC officials with politicians to award figures to All Progressives Congress, APC candidates.
Protesters stormed INEC headquarters in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, demanding that the results allegedly awarded to APC candidates be annulled.
Protesters held placards with various inscriptions, including “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.”
Protesters who spoke to newsmen at the INEC headquarters through Labour Party candidates for Abakaliki/Izzi and Ohaukwu/Ebonyi federal constituencies urged President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians in general to persuade the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ebonyi State to do the right thing.
Emmanuel Eze and Prince Chibueze Agbo, Labour Party House of Representatives candidates for Abakaliki/Izzi and Ohaukwu/Ebonyi federal constituencies, claimed that “bad elements in INEC are attempting to manipulate our results.”
Eze stated: “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.”
Prince Chibueze 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.”
