Posted by Samuel on Sat 09th Nov, 2024 - 91˛Öżâ
The PDP candidate who claimed that some security men invaded his house at the wee hours of the election day, said two of his cousins and polling agents were beaten by the invaders.
Hon. Igwe Akuma Akwu, the counsellorship candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Okamu Ward, Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State in the November 2nd Local Government election, has raised alarm, claiming that his life is in danger since after the council poll.
Akwu who also claimed he won the election by landslide but his mandate stolen, cried out for justice.
The PDP candidate who claimed that some security men invaded his house at the wee hours of the election day, said two of his cousins and polling agents were beaten by the invaders.
Akwu in a statement made available to Vanguard challenged Abia Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, to explain his role in the scenario.
He called on security agencies to come to his rescue, saying he has been living in fears.
But in a swift response, the Deputy Governor denied any involvement in the alleged invasion of Akwu’s home, saying the PDP candidate is just seeking cheap popularity by trying to link him with his ordeal.
The Deputy Governor who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Eke Mba, also dismissed the allegations as false, adding that the counsellorship candidate is too small a fly to be envied by him.
”How can the Deputy Governor descend so low to such a person? After all, PDP is already dead in Abia. He just wants people to notice him. These days if somebody wants to make headline he will call the name of the Deputy Governor just to draw attention. All the allegations are false”, he said.
But the PDP candidate in a statement, insisted that the Deputy Governor should be investigated.
The statement read: ”I’m Hon. Igwe Akuma Akwu of the People’s Democratic Party PDP and the legitimate winner of the just concluded Councillorship election in Okamu Ward, Ohafia LGA of Abia State.
“On 2 November 2024, the election day, at around 3:25 am, some unidentified personnel invaded my house accompanied by two of my cousins who were thoroughly beaten up as they were forced to show them my house to whisk me away to an unknown location.
“Fortunately, I was in the restroom and the only option I had was to remain there till daybreak. As if the intimidation wasn’t enough, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, came in person to Okon Aku Ohafia in company of Zenith Labour Party ZLP candidate , Ige Kalu Ige searching for me.
“In spite of the Deputy Governor’s intimidation and arrest of four of my polling unit agents; Okamu people came in their numbers and voted me and I was declared winner of the election by ABSIEC officials.
“As a law-abiding citizen who has no criminal issues with the law enforcement agents or the Deputy Governor, I wonder why he wants my life.
“Based on his threats and intimidation, my life is in danger and I now live in fear and my constitutional guaranteed right of freedom is in total jeopardy.
“The Deputy Governor’s motive on the election day remains unknown to me but perhaps my popularity in Okamu Ward. I call on the relevant authorities to investigate this incident and ensure my safety.”
The statement further read: ”Despite efforts to frustrate my election, the people of Okamu Ward voted overwhelming for me, as affirmed and declared by the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission ABSIEC supervisors on video record.
“ABSIEC declared his boy, Ige Kalu Ige, of the Zenith Labour Party the winner of the election and handed him the certificate of return contrary to the wishes and mandates of Okamu people.
“My concern now is not the election daylight robbery of my mandate but my life that is being threatened.”
He, however, urged his followers to remain calm while appealing to security agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter.
“To the people of Okamu Ward, I urge you to Keep hope alive; since there’s life, there’s hope”.
Meanwhile, the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, has denied any knowledge of the claims by the PDP candidate that he won the poll, challenging him to produce evidence.
ABSIEC Commissioner in charge of Information, Voter Education, Training and Publicity, Dr Kelechi Okere, when contacted, said the candidate should substantiate his claims with proof.
”He should know that this is election and not selection. If he was declared winner, let him produce the result sheet and certificate of declaration. He should have evidence.”
When reminded of a viral video where the Ward result was allegedly being declared, he said he was not aware.
Efforts to reach Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO in the state, Maureen Chinaka, were unsuccessful as she did not pick calls put across to her.
As at the time of filing this report, she had yet to respond to a text message sent to her.
When contacted the Investigation Police Officer, IPO, in charge of the matter, said four persons were arrested in the PDP candidate’s house by another security agency and brought to Ohafia Police Station.
The IPO ( names withheld), said the Deputy Governor later came to the station and alleged that the arrested persons were defaming his character on the social media.
He said: Four persons were brought here and detained but later released on bail. They were said to have made voice note on the Internet against the Deputy Governor. The Deputy Governor later came and said they were defaming his character.
On what the police found out, the IPO said: ”They said they are going to court. We have prepared the files. Any time they want to go to court, we will arraign them but if they want to settle, that’s okay”.