Governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to accept the cancellation of the governorship poll in the state by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and get ready for a re-run.
Speaking at his campaign office in Umuahia, Otti said he was also dissatisfied with how INEC Returning Officer in the state, Professor Benjamin Ozumba was handling the issue.
He said: “If somebody claims that they were voted for and had about 82 ,000 votes, they should not be afraid, because the same people that voted them will vote for them again if there is a re-run and they will have the same number of votes or even more.”
The governorship hopeful, however, insisted on the use of card readers for the conduct of the re-run poll as mandated by INEC.
“I am very disappointed that the returning officer recanted his ground, because a professor of medicine should stand his ground, he should not be intimidated.
“I am also disappointed that he swallowed his words 45 minutes after making a pronouncement.
“But I am more disappointed that a sitting governor will go and intimidate the collation officer in his state because of election results .
“It is very disheartening that after mounting undue influence and pressure on electoral officers, they came and reversed themselves before international observers, media men and the world as a whole; they don’t have the right,” he said.
