A former National Vice President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Dr Monday Ubani, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that Abia State residents will not accept any result short of the true outcome of the March 18 governorship election in the State.
Ubani specifically declared through a statement on Sunday that Abians are tired of imposition of leadership, and with their confidence in Electoral Act, 2022, would not accept anything short of a process that is free, fair and credible.
The constitutional lawyer, while reacting to the deadlock in the release of Abia State governorship election, vowed that anything contrary to the Electoral Act “would be rejected outright ,and I am afraid that such outcome shall not be allowed to stand in the State and by extension in Nigeria.”
Ubani expressed outrage that with the progress Nigeria has made with the new Electoral Act, 2022, he is surprised that someone will contemplate forcing INEC officials to announce fictitious results that did not pass through BVAS accreditation.
“I will not believe it. But that is precisely what is happening in Abia presently at Obingwa Local Government Area in Abia State.
“Information at my disposal is that the EO of INEC in Obingwa was placed under severe threat to announce results that were not obtained in accordance with the Electoral Act in favour of a particular candidate in the gubernatorial race in the State. When he refused to accede to such demands, they forced his other colleagues to announce the mind boggling results to suit their whim and caprices.
“INEC is hereby advised and warned seriously not to further damage its already battered image by going ahead with announcing such results in the State that is clearly devoid of law and logic.
“On the streets and in homes, Abians are sounding it as a note of warning to INEC and the Nigerian institutions that have one role or the other to play in the electoral process, to reject electoral heist, terrorism and ensure that free, fair and equitable process is allowed to be employed to produce the new leadership of Abia in 2023. From 1999 till date, Abians and Abia have not been fortunate with leadership that meant well for the State”, he stated in the release.