Ohuabunwa returns to senate, defeats Orji Kalu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mao Ohuabunwa (pictured right) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of Saturday’s re-run election in Abia north senatorial district.

Ojike Nwankpa, returning officer of the election, said Ohuabunwa polled 26,009 votes to defeat Orji Kalu of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) who polled 25,814 votes.

Bourdex Onuoha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance had 13,633 votes, while Nwanna Okoro of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 976 votes, and Oji Nwachukwu of Labour Party polled 147 votes.

Nwankpa, who had earlier declared the election inconclusive, said Ohuabunwa the winner “for polling the highest number of lawful votes cast”.

Edwin Enabor, head, education and publicity of INEC in the state, said “the returning officer erroneously declared the re-run election inconclusive”.

“This was wrong. In a re-run election, a winner must emerge by simple majority,” he said.

“The margin of lead vis-a-vis the number of registered voters does not arise in a re-run election.”

The court of appeal sitting in Owerri  had ordered a re-run election in Abia north.

Meanwhile, Augustine Ehiemere,  chairman of APGA in Abia, has described the election as fraudulent and unacceptable.’

In a telephone interview with NAN, Ehimere said: “PDP is in control of the instrument of power and the local government councils where election results were manipulated”.

But Emma Nwaka, chairman of the PDP in the state, expressed delight over the result of the re-run election.

He said the result had affirmed Ohuabunwa’s victory in the March 28, 2015 general election.

Nwaka also faulted the returning officer for initially declaring the election inconclusive.

Results of the re-run election for house of assembly in Aba North, Arochukwu, Ikwuano, Isialangwa South, Osisioma, Umuahia South and Umunneochi state constituencies, are being awaited.