2023: INEC omitted my party, APC on result sheet, Rep. Sam Onuigbo breaks silence
The incumbent Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency of Abia State, Rep. Sam Onuigbo has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC of omitting his party’s name on the result sheet, in the just concluded election.
Onuigbo who is the APC Senatorial Candidate for APC Senatorial Candidate for Abia Central Districts lamented that the INEC failed to include the name of my party on the result sheet APC Senatorial Candidate for Abia Central Districts.
Onuigbo stated this during a press conference at his Umuahia home shortly after the just held election, which was reportedly declared inconclusive.
The statement read in detail:
BY REP. SAM I. ONUIGBO FCIS, FNIM, Member Representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/ South Federal Constituency of Abia State in the National Assembly and the APC Senatorial Candidate for Abia Central District.
It is with utmost sense of patriotism and love for our State, Abia and Country Nigeria that I address you today on the just concluded National Assembly Elections.
My Journey to Public Service which spans over three decades traversing through the American Embassy to the National Assembly to Abia State Executive Council and presently the National Assembly as the Member Representing the good people of great Ikwuano/Umuahia North/ Umuahia South Federal Constituency has been one that has positively affected the people.
It is in line with my desire to continue serving my people that I joined the race for the Senatorial Seat for Abia Central on the platform of my Party , APC which witnessed Political gang up against my candidacy by some self-centered members of the party.
On Friday, January 27, 2023 at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the battle ended in my favour to the glory of God, the giver of power. The Supreme Court on that day affirmed that I was the validly elected candidate of the party for Abia Central Senatorial District. The Court further affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal that Hon Emeka Atuma never participated in the Abia Central Senatorial District primary election.
At this juncture I would like to thank the judiciary for rising to the occasion and dislodging the political gangsterism, which then enabled me to contest for last Saturday’s general elections.
However, it is very astonishing that the conduct of last Saturday’s Elections left much to be desired as INEC failed in it’s statutory responsibility of ensuring free, fair and credible poll.
It is disheartening to inform you that INEC failed to include the name of my party on the result sheet for the 2023 Abia Central Senatorial Election, consequently the documentation of my scores in the Election was shambolic. This made a mess of your votes for me and left our votes at the mercy of Presiding Officers who chose to either leave out the result, record it among the invalid votes or in rare cases create a column with their own hands to enter it.
It is worthy to mention here that, INEC uploaded my Name on it’s Portal as the Senatorial Candidate for APC on 22nd December 2022 after my Court of Appeal victory on the 30th of November, 2022.
The question now remains why was my Name missing on the Result Sheet?
This puzzle should be resolved by INEC and the Leadership of my Party APC that made no effort to correct the anormaly at the Appropriate time.
Whereas I am consulting with my attorneys on the appropriate response to this grave omission, let me state in clear terms that I reject in its totality the strange figure of 7,997 votes as manufactured and allocated to me and my party by INEC in an effort to save their face.
Be that as it may, I want to thank the good people of Ikwuano/Umuahia North and Umuahia South, Abia Central Senatorial Zone, the media, my friends, associates and indeed Ndi Abia and Nigerians for the unquantifiable love shown me before now and during the election despite various attempts to pull me down.
Over the years, you have given me undiluted support through your prayers, advice, phone calls, encouragement, etc, which was drawn from my service to humanity and I do not take them for granted.
Your genuine support to me has helped me through this period of time to forgive all those who deliberately set out to deny me what legitimately was mine and all those who wronged me.
I therefore assure you that I will continue to reciprocate this love which you have always showered on me for a long time now.
I promise to liaise with my successor, the incoming Senator for Abia Central Zone as well as the incoming administration in the state and at the federal levels to ensure the completion of all the ongoing projects attracted by me including:
The Umuahia – Umudike 16km Dualization Project with a flyover from Amachara to Ossah.
The Federal Secretariat Project, Ekeoba, Umuahia North.
Okwe – Obuohia – Nkari federal Road in Abia and Akwa Ibom States
The erosion control Project in Elemega, Agbor Ibere autonomous community, in Ikwuano LGA.
The devastating gully erosion at Amaegbu village in Ugwuegbu autonomous community in Ariam Usaka, Ikwuano LGA.
The erosion control challenges and danger of major fire outbreak at PPMC pipeline in Umunwanwa in Umuahia South LGA
The Skills Acquisition Center in Apumiri Ubakala, Umuahia South LGA Headquarters which I am hopeful will be completed before the end of this administration, and
The Achingali – Udobi- Obizi road in Imo state to Umunwanwa and Ubakala in Umuahia South, Abia State in order to achieve the ultimate target which is making life more meaningful for the people.
Finally, I want to appeal to my numerous supporters and the Odozi Obodo family to remain peaceful and law abiding in the face of this provoking situation.
Thank you and God bless us all.
Rep. Sam Ifeanyichukwu Onuigbo, Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency of Abia State and APC candidate for the 2023 Senatorial District election.
