Aba bye-election: I’m not going to court, Uzor Kalu’s brother accepts defeat

The Candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the Aba North/ Aba South Federal Constituency bye-election, Hon Mascot Uzor-Kalu, has accepted his loss.

While appreciating members of the party for making APC stronger in Abia, he accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of fighting for the election at all cost.

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Mascot said although his party was not declared winner of the election, it secured a greater victory because “we chose life over blood shed and therefore won lives and lost the polls”.

This was contained in a letter to his supporters on a day after the election.

He alleged that the election was marred by thuggery and rigging, saying Nigeria’s electoral laws ought to be reviewed.

Mascot said the electoral laws as they are, render the security agencies with arms weak in the face of violence at the polls.

“PDP flooded the city with thugs numbering over 20,000. Traders were threatened with text messages to keep away or lose their lives .

“My campaign officers and our party agents were kidnapped , even the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) , Prof Joseph Iloh, was manhandled by thugs at the Aba polytechnics.

“We were winning in more than 65 polling units and they kept using thugs to harass the INEC officials and scare our voters. Our voters ran for their lives. In a city with over 400,000 voting strength, less than 15,000 votes were recorded in the entire election.”

Ikpeazu: Election a referendum on my govt

But Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has described the victory of the PDP as a clear vindication of the hard work his administration has put into the repositioning of Aba.

In his official response to the victory of Hon. Chimaobi Ebisike of the PDP in the bye election, the Governor stated that the bye election was a first hand opportunity for the people of Aba to pass judgment on the efforts of his administration in rebuilding the broken walls of the Enyimba City.

“For all intents and purposes, this election was more appropriately, a referendum by the people of Aba on our work in the city. Our government has invested lots of effort in providing critical infrastructure in Aba and it is heartwarming to see that indeed, the people truly appreciate our efforts. It is also a clear message that our people detest injustice. The people of Aba completely endorsed our message that it was only just, fair and proper to allow the aborigines of Aba an opportunity to represent their own people for the first time in 22 years of our democracy at the National Assembly.”

“It is a massive privilege to be called upon to serve your own people. Ebisike must appreciate the historic nature of his election and what it means for the people of Aba. He must remain humble and work with dedication in the interest of the people of Aba. He must learn from his forebearers at the National Assembly, especially those who have made their people proud. He must prove that indeed, the aborigines of Aba have all it takes to serve their fatherland well. He must also show that Aba is a home for all by carrying everyone alone along,” he said.