CSOs, Abia North Senatorial Stakeholders Calls for Withdraw of Certificate of Return from Orji Uzo Kalu

Paschal Emeka, Abuja, Posted 31 March, 2023.

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in conjunction with key stakeholders in Abia North Senatorial District has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to as a matter of urgency withdraw the certificate of return issued to the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Senator Orji Uzo Kalu as the election which gave him victory is inconclusive.

The Spokesman of the CSOs and stakeholders, Chika Orieji, who made the call in Abuja, during a press conference, alleged that the February 25th Senatorial election in the District was declared inconclusive and expressed shock that Senator Kalu was later declared winner of an inconclusive election.

“This appeal becomes very necessary following the post-election outcry and protests by indigenes of the Senatorial District on account of massive disenfranchisement and perceived deception as well as compromise by the officials of the electoral commission.

” The report by the accredited INEC election observers, which affirmed that the Senatorial election that took place in Abia North on 25th February 2023, was below the standard and acceptable electoral practice, contrary to INEC Electoral Acts and guidelines and against the wishes of the electorates.

“The INEC returning officer after noticing some irregularities and logistic challenges on election day, announced to the observers and party agents and others in Ohafia, after consultation with the Resident Electoral Officer in Umuahia, that there will be a rerun election on Sunday 26th February 2023, in some places in Abia North where election did not hold, but elections never held till date.

According to Chika Orieji, the election did not hold in over 100 polling units across Ohafia, Arochukwu, and Isuikwuato local government areas of Abia North Senatorial District.

“There was a total violation of electoral guidelines in the conduct of the election in Abia North Senatorial District such as not counting and announcement of results open by the presiding officer at the polling units; failure to post results from polling units and the inability of INEC officials to transmit results online after voting to the INEC Result Viewing, IRev, portal.

Recall that Senator Kalu has since commenced lobbying to become the Senate President of the incoming 10th National Assembly.

However, the CSOs and Abia North Senatorial District stakeholders wondered how someone who sabotaged and betrayed the wishes of his people will be aspiring for the third highest office in the land.

They, therefore, dismissed as a joke Senator Kalu’s claim that it is his turn to become the next Senate President describing it as a huge joke.