Ebonyi Bye-election: PDP, APC Bicker Over Vote Buying, Ballot Box Snatching, Intimidation
The Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Barr. Silas Onu and the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Stanley Emegha yesterday disagreed over allegation of vote buying, ballot box snatching and intimidation of voters made against the ruling party, APC by the PDP.
Speaking with journalists, the candidate of the PDP, Barr. Onu accused the APC led government in the State of using soldiers and suspected thugs to intimidate the voters and snatch ballot boxes in polling booths.
Barr. Onu said, “there was no election in Ohaozara LGA. A Chieftain of the party from Ohaozara LGA was seen using thugs , compelling people to vote. In fact, they are holding people’s hands to thumb print. When you vote for PDP, they will thumbprint for another party to invalidate it.
“Apart from that, they have been snatching ballot boxes. I do not know what they want to do with it but because the election petition tribunal and the Supreme Court has said BIVAS is of no use, they are now carrying ballot boxes, going to somewhere to thumbprint, not caring what accreditation figure in BIVAS will say.
“What they intend to do is to get the result sheet, write accreditation figure, write their result and move on. This is not healthy for our democracy. The fact that they tried to stop me through a procured court judgement and that did not stop me is a testament to their desperation in this election.
So, we will review everything. We have one or two areas we already have them by the box and we will see what happens after the elections.
Reacting to the allegation, the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Chief Stanley Emegha described the allegation as false, mischievous and a calculated attempt by the opposition to whip up sentiment and attract unmerited sympathy.
Chief Emegha maintained that the opposition are in the habit of crying foul each time they loss election adding that the party was not prepared for the election.
The complain of the opposition is well understood. There weren’t prepared for the Bye-election. We were confident of victory even before the election. What will be out benefit, snatching ballot boxes or buying votes when the people that came out to vote were all APC Supporters.
