Situation review concerning Aba north/south federal constituency Bye-Election as Electoral stake holders held a meeting to achieve Peaceful Election

After the dead of The Aba north/South federal rep member. Hon. Osy Prestige. Independent Nigeria Electoral commission (INEC) decided to push on a bye Election to bring out another rep in replace Hon. Osy.
Since then, various political parties in Aba Abia State Nigeria started their hot campaign in regard to the upcoming bye Election.

STAKEHOLDERS MEETING FOR ABA SOUTH/ABA NORTH FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY BYE-ELECTION.
Venue: ABA NORTH TOWN HALL ABIA STATE
Time: 12 noon.
The meeting which commenced at exactly 12:34 pm had in attendance major stakeholders in this very bye-election election.

THE PREAMBLE:
In his opening remark, Dr. J.V.C Iloh the State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) explained that the stakeholders forum was organized in order to sustain s peaceful coexistence and mutual interractive atmosphere among the contesting political parties. From his view point, INEC recognises that the electorates in Aba are politically conscious. Hence, the need for a peaceful outing on Saturday, March 27, 2021.

He revealed that the news of the death of late Hon. Ossy Prestige was made public in January, 2021 and that the law only allows 90 days window within which election is expected to be conducted for a possible replacement.

As a way to sustain this, INEC conducted a peace accord with the contestants and pledge them to honour their words.

This very interactive session is meant to feel the pulse of the stakeholders but regretted the incident that took place on the 13th day of December, 2021 in which INEC office in Aba was rased down to the ground to the extent that the walls cracked as a result of the impact of the fire by unidentified street urchins. The concern here is that there were no major political activities within the period of the incident and called on all to join hands together in order to unmask the circumstances surrounding this very dastardly act.

INVOLVEMENT OF STAKEHOLDERS:
IPAC was also involved on a similar stakeholders meeting at Umuahia. The Chairman and secretary were also present during the meeting.

ICCES:
Interagency security network meeting comprising the Nigerian army, the Navy, police, DSS, FRSC etc was held in Umuahia prior to this date and specific flash points were observed and penciled down.

INEC PREPARATION:
INEC has trained her adhoc staff for this exercise. Vehicles and other essentials have been made available with emphasis on crucial logistics arrangements. The adhoc workers drafted for this exercise are expected to arrive the designated polling units on the day of the bye-election on or before 8 a:m and the electorates shall be allowed to vote till 2:30 pm

Results shall be counted and announced at the polling units and immediately transmitted electronically to the portal before onward movement to the collation centre. The party agents shall be allowed at the polling units and the collation centre but are expected to conduct themselves in a civilised manner.

There is an appeal to the party representatives to control their supporters. The State REC also reiterated that he has given assurances to the National Chairman of INEC that the election in Aba North and Aba South federal constituencies shall be very successful and violent free. He prayed the Almighty God to touch the hearts of all the politicians as well as their supporters in this regard.

At this stage, he encouraged everyone present to open up and mention some of the notable issues that will require attention.

OBSERVATIONS:
The Police: CSP Alumina Florence who represented the Area Commander in this jurisdiction AC Kabiru Ibrahim noted that the Nigeria Police is prepared for this election.

The NSCDC
A representative of the NSCDC in this meeting believed that the shedding of blood is a sin and ultimately know that the electorates here have the same view. He asked if there is any election held before now in the city that had witnessed any form of death and the answer was simply no. He begged everyone present not to cite any form of political unrest in the build up, during and after the bye-election.

FRSC
The man who spoke on behaf of the sector Commander of this security agency noted and encouraged those who are vying for this election to think of what they can do for the society instead of what they will take away from it which is the major reason why it is viewed as a do or die affair without the objective to serve humanity.

Immigration: The representative said that with this election we should endeavour to do what is basically outstanding.

VIEWS FROM POLITICAL PARTIES:

The APC
Hon. Ben Kalu representing Bende Federal Constituency promised that his party the APC will do what is necessary to ensure peace and promised Aba people that there will be peace in the election.
He appealed to INEC to still maintain fairness just as it happened in his jurisdiction where he was given a fair and just landing without any form of interference which ultimately saw to his emergence as winner. He maintained that the electorates should look out for who is credible and have the capacity to deliver among those fielded for this election leaving without fear or favours. He stated that he grew up from Aba and that those who intends to fan the embers of hatred in this election should to desist from such.

A.A
The representative of Action Alliance party made it very clear that elections must not be used as instrument to ferment troubles. He encouraged all present to preach peace all through this period. According to him, the election is not a do or die affair. He advocated that the contestant from A.A is a gentle, calm and peace loving man.

APGA
Hon. Frank Udeagha APGA Chairman Aba North.
As the representative of APGA, he asked the INEC boss in the State of the total number of polling units and voting points in he federal constituency and it was stated as 609 in numerical terms.

He maintained there are flash points at
• Umuola,
• Umuobom, and
• Ariaria

For Umuola he opined that people from Obingwa will come in to vote for the election. In Umuobom, he said that some polling units will be indigenized in terms of community ownership as before and such will likely result to fracas. He went further to submit his observations to Dr. J.V.C Iloh, the State REC.

A.A
Hon Dr. Okey Longinus Prestige a contestant thanked the INEC REC for his astuteness and good thoughts in organising this stakeholders meeting

He encouraged INEC to ensure:

• Timeliness
• Sanity in the election area particularly for posters of political parties not to be allowed around the polling units or voting points.
•

PDP
The party representative encouraged INEC on her efforts so far and promised that the PDP will conduct herself in a very peaceful manner in the course of the election

The representative from PDP further reiterated the need for adequate security measures to be adopted as the election lasts.
Hon. Martin Azubuike former Speaker Abia State House of Assembly proposed key interventions for this election

His interventions include:
• That this very two local government have boundaries with other adjoining L.G.As where movements are not checked, such will create room for infiltration. To this he asked a question to ascertain if the markets and businesses are to be closed or shut down while the election lasts.

• He noted that the INEC office meant for Aba is closer to Obingwa than Aba North

• Speaking further, he maintained that Umobo and Umuisii, Ihie Orji, Ohabiam, Umuogele primary school are notable flash points that must be given deep considerations.

Pastor Nwokocha Anozie Innocent, the Executive Director, Initiative For Ideal Development And Emancipatory Leadership In Nigeria (IDEAL-NIGERIA), observed that the CSOs have always contributed positively in the course of the bye-election bearing in mind their non partisan and unbiased dispositions.
This according to him, is one of the core mandates of the work of the civil society actors.

In her reactions, Miss Onyinyechi Nwosu, the Executive Director of opined that the idea of logistics for the CSOs must be put into consideration.
She equally condemned what transpired in the course of this event where after each of the speakers or political actors sperch, they rose up and walked away without feeling the impulse or response of those people. Such act is not proper and represents a disrespect to the people.

REACTIONS FROM THE STATE REC:
The INEC REC maintained that the issue of party stalwarts speaking and walking away is such a disrespect and disregard to the electorates.

On movement, INEC has already appealed to the secretary to the State Government to make room for restriction of movement in this very L.G.As that is Aba North and Aba South.

In attendance were the Heads of various departments at the State INEC headquarters in Umuahia, political parties, various security agencies (ICCES), members of civil society organizations, IPAC, community leaders as well as members of the press.

The meeting came to a close at exactly 2:46 pm with a national anthem rendition.

As reported: Pastor Nwokocha Anozie Innocent
The Executive Director,
Initiative For Ideal Development And Emancipatory Leadership In Nigeria (IDEAL-NIGERIA) and written by @chrisdsteemsport