The owner of the property housing the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) has taken a decisive action to recover the debt owed him by the agency.
He recently put the premises under lock and key over eight years rent arrears leaving the workers and the management stranded.
The Commission’s office is located along Library Avenue in Umuahia, the state capital.
Reports quoted the landlord of the property, Mr. Udeh, as saying that the governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu’s directive for him to be paid had been flouted.
He said: “We are law-abiding citizens of this state. As Abians, we want our grievances to be made known to the governor, who has given approval that the rent of eight years be paid to us since January.
“They told us that we should wait for the budget to be approved. We waited and the budget was approved. Till now, they are sitting on the directive.
“We want the governor to know that his kind gestures towards us were being frustrated by his subordinates.
“It is not confrontational. The Governor is a peace loving man. He came in and saw that for eight years, the rent of ABSIEC has not been paid. And he felt bad. That is why he gave the directive it should be paid to date.”
Udeh said he was left with no other option than to lock up the place until the needful was done.