Mr. Hon Johnson, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) councilor candidate for Okam Ward in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State. Igwe Akuma Akwu has expressed serious concerns about his safety following the November 2 local government elections.
Although Akwu claims he won the election decisively, he insists that victory was stolen from him.
In a statement released to the press, Mr. Aku reported that his home was invaded by armed men in the early morning hours of election day, resulting in the assault of his two cousins and poll workers. He sought justice regarding these events.
Mr. Akwu also publicly challenged the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu, to clarify his involvement in the embarrassing situation.
He sought protection from security forces as he continued to live in fear.
However, the deputy governor flatly denied any connection with the alleged attack on Akwu’s home, suggesting that the PDP candidate was just trying to draw attention by linking it to his own difficulties.
The Deputy Governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Eke Mba, dismissed the allegations as baseless, saying Mr Akwu was not important enough to warrant his envy.
“How can a deputy governor be so disrespectful to such a person?”After all, PDP is already dead in Abia. He just wants people to pay attention. These days, if someone wants to make headlines, they call out the lieutenant governor‘s name just to get attention. All allegations are false.”
However, in a swift response, the PDP candidate in a statement insisted that the deputy governor should be investigated.
The statement read: Mr. Igwe Akuma Akwu of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP is the rightful winner of the just concluded parliamentary election in Okamu Ward, Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.
“On Election Day, November 2, 2024, at approximately 3:25 a.m., unidentified officials entered my home accompanied by two of my cousins, and they attacked me in order to take me away to an unknown location. I was forced to show him around the house and was thoroughly beaten.
“Fortunately, I was in the toilet and I had no choice but to stay there until nightfall.As if the threat was not enough, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Eng. Ikechukwu Emetu came directly to Okon Aku Ohafia along with Zenith Labor Party ZLP candidate Ige Kalu Ige and was looking for me.
“Despite the lieutenant governor’s intimidation and the arrest of four of my poll workers, the people of Okam voted for me in numbers and I was declared the winner of the election by ABSIEC officials.
“As a law-abiding citizen who has no criminal issues with law enforcement or the lieutenant governor, I wonder why he would seek my life.
“Due to his threats and intimidation, my life is in danger, I am now living in fear, and my constitutional right to freedom is in complete jeopardy.
“The deputy governor’s motive on election day is unclear to me, but it was probably due to my popularity in Okam Ward. I call on the relevant authorities to investigate this incident and ensure my safety. .”
The statement further added: “Despite attempts to derail my election, the residents of Okam Ward overwhelmingly supported my election as confirmed and declared in a video recording by the ABSIEC Supervisor of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission. voted for.
“ABSIEC, against the wishes and orders of the people of Okam, declared his son Ige Kalu Ige, who belongs to the Zenith Labor Party, the winner of the election and handed him a certificate of return.
“My concern now is not that my mandate will be taken away in broad daylight of an election, but that my life is being threatened.”
But he called on his supporters to remain calm and appealed to security authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter.
“Everyone in Okamu Ward, please continue to have hope. There is life, so there is hope,” Akwu said.
ABSIEC’s response to Akwu’s claims
The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) has refuted the claims of the PDP candidate regarding his victory in the election and called on him to produce evidence to support his claims.
ABSIEC Commissioner for Information, Voter Education, Training and Publicity, Dr. Kelechi Okere, said candidates were expected to verify their statements with concrete evidence.
“He must know that this is an election and not a selection. If he is declared the winner, we will submit the result sheet and declaration certificate. He should have proof,” Okere said. he said.
When reminded of the viral video in which Ward’s results were allegedly announced, Okere said he was unaware, according to Vanguard.
When contacted, the IPO investigating police officer in charge of the matter said the four persons were arrested by other security agencies at the PDP candidate’s home and taken to Ohafia Police Station.
According to IPO, whose name has been withheld, the deputy governor later visited the police station and alleged that the arrestees were defaming him on social media.
He said four people were taken here and detained but later released on bail. They allegedly created a voice memo to the lieutenant governor on the internet. Then the lieutenant governor came and said they were defaming the lieutenant governor.
Commenting on what police found, IPO said: I have prepared a file. Whenever they want to go to court, we arraign them, but if they want to settle, that’s fine. ”
