February 03, (THEWILL) – The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Saturday’s bye-election in Ebonyi South senatorial zone, Barrister Silas Onu, has accused the All Progressive Congress (APC) of ballot snatching, multiple thumb printing and vote buying.
Barrister Onu, who disclosed this in an interview with journalists at Ishieke polling unit, in Ohaozara local government area, said he had to leave his polling unit after voting, owing to provocative activities by the ruling APC in the state.
According to him, he was going to review the election, saying that Nigeria’s democracy has descended into this level of disgrace and lawlessness.
“It is probably bye and not an election. That is what we are seeing, especially in Ohaozara local government area. There is no election. The former governor who has vowed he must win, when you hear somebody say he must win, he is using thugs, compelling peolple 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 or the supreme court has said BVAS is of no use, they are now carrying ballot boxes, going to somewhere to thumbprint, not caring what accreditation figure in BIAS will say. Of course, they will get the result sheet, write accreditation figure, write their result and move on.
“This is not healthy for democracy. I am satiafied that because of me, the whole of APC in Ebonyi South are not sleeping. It says something about the acceptance that I have here. So, I am satisfied to have caused them sleepless night, I am satisfied to have made them spend so much money to steal the election.
“If I was not in the race, they would have gone to sleep and write their result. 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. I am not someone who just jumped into an election, I know this things will happen and I know where I will come from to stop them. They should go ahead.
“You see I have just left the polling unit because what they are doing there, they are trying to provoke fight so that they will say Silas Onu is a violent person. Since morning if you had come this is only the polling unit that has been so busy . Actually even the former governor came here and dropped money and left. All of them have been coming because they want to make sure by hook or crook, they win the polling unit and I have asked my people not to engage them.
“This is not an election. If it is an election, people will vote. Are you seeing anybody around? They are just there drinking under the tree. If you go there, you will see them drinking alcohol and their bar woman is there sharing money to them. She goes and she thumbprint on behalf of the people.
“I have video of where they are sharing money. If you call security agents, they will say what can we do. You can call your own thugs to intimidate them. I will not do politics that way. Our democracy has descended into this level of disgrace and lawlessness”, he said.
About the Author
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
