Amidst fears that the tensed political atmosphere in Abia State may derail the conduct of credible polls in the state, the state chapter of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has issued a four-point demand, which fulfillment, the party says, would ensure the conduct of credible, peaceful elections in the state.

The party was reacting to the arrest of one Felix Obisike, and N-power beneficiary, reportedly caught with prepared result sheets for the botched Presidential and National Assembly elections slated for February 16, 2019.

The incident has triggered heated debates and accusations and counter accusations by the political parties which raised doubts about the capability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct credible elections.

Despite assurances by the Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Dr. Joseph Iloh, that that the said material was fake and would never find its way into INEC’s system, APGA said the “developments call for serious concern of Abia people.”

Addressing newsmen at the campaign headquarters of its governorship candidate, Dr. Alex Otti, on Library Avenue, Abia APGA chairman, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, said the party demands that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), “must as a matter of urgency,” reorganise its office in Abia in order to fish out and prosecute officials who allegedly aided the removal of elections result sheets.

APGA also called for swapping of collation officers from Michael Okpara University, Umudike with lecturers from other universities outside Abia, alleging that they have sympathy for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

It equally wants the military to remain vigilant to ensure that military uniforms already allegedly procured were not deployed to cause mayhem on election days in the state.

The party also called on security agencies to be on red alert to the activities of hoodlums and government officials allegedly recruited for election duties.

Ehiemere, represented by his Deputy, Chief Chima Onyekwere, accused PDP and the state government of being desperate to winning all the elections in the state, by hook or crook.

He alleged that part of PDP’s plan to rig the polls was burst on Friday, February 15, 2019, when the Police arrested Obisike in Umuahia for being in possession of INEC sensitive documents and already completed result sheets that gave PDP victory ahead of the aborted last Saturday’s polls.

He said the alleged rigging plans, if not nipped in the bud, “will not only deny Abia people the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights in choosing their leaders through the ballot, but may also have triggered a chain of violent events that may endanger the lives of members of the public as they file out to cast their votes.”

APGA urged Abians collectively join hands to thwart any undemocratic plot and actions that may undermine the polls in the state, stressing that the 2019 general elections offers the people the opportunity to freely choose good leaders of their choice.

“We call on Ndi Abia to be more vigilant. This is our finest moment in Abia State to elect credible leadership, the kind that will move the state forward, the type that will bring prosperity top our people, a leadership with heart for the people and has the fear of God. We must resist brigandage and intimidation of any kind,” APGA said.

Meanwhile, the Abia State Police Command has debunked the allegation that its operatives arrested a man with sensitive INEC materials and already written results in favour of PDP.

Debunking the allegation, the State Commissioner of Police, Ene Etim Okon, was categorical that no such matter was reported to any of its stations across the state, not to talk of effecting any arrest.

Also, the Abia State PDP Chairman, Sir Johnson Onuigbo, said the arrest of Obisike was a frame up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose members arrested and tortured Obisike at the campaign headquarters of the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Uche Ogah.

But the Deputy Director, Media, of Uche Ogah Campaign Organisation, Chief Joshua Nnanyere Ogbonna, has called for full-scale investigation that would unravel how Obisike came about the documents that were allegedly found in his car.

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