The All Progressives Congress, APC, has won all 13 chairmanship and 171 councillorship seats contested in the Aug. 22 Local Government elections held across Ebonyi State.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that no other political party participated in the council elections, as Mr. Patrick Enyi, Chairman of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, EBSIEC, announced the results in Abakaliki on Sunday, declaring APC candidates winners in all the contested positions.
Enyi said the candidates were duly returned as chairmen and councilors after emerging victorious in their respective constituencies. He described the election as peaceful, free and fair, while congratulating the successful candidates.
Among those elected as council chairmen is Mr. Osborne Umahi, son of the Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi, who won in Ohaozara Local Government Area.
Other chairmen-elect are Mrs. Peace Agwu for Ishielu, Mr. Paul Ituma for Ohaukwu, Mr. Friday Nwuhuo for Ezza North, Mr. Chinedu Mkpuma for Ezza South, Mr. Chidi Nwode for Ikwo, Mr. Timothy Nwachi for Afikpo North and Mr. Ikechukwu Ogbofia for Onicha.
The remaining winners are Mr. Michael Anyim for Ivo, Chief Simeon Onuoha for Edda, Mrs. Helen Aduga for Izzi, Mr. Chidiebere Alo for Abakaliki and Mr. Chibueze Odigwe for Ebonyi Local Government Area.
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Despite the announcement of the results, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, rejected the Aug. 22 council elections.
The opposition parties described the exercise as a “mono-party poll” and alleged that it was conducted in defiance of subsisting court judgments.
The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Darlington Onwe, said the party did not recognize the exercise as an election.
Onwe described the poll as “not an election at all,” alleging that EBSIEC and the Ebonyi State Government failed to provide an environment that allowed genuine participation by all registered political parties.
He further argued that the election was unconstitutional and could not confer legitimacy on candidates who emerged from the exercise.
The development has therefore created a sharp political divide in the state, with the electoral commission declaring the APC candidates winners while opposition parties continue to challenge the credibility and legality of the process.
NAN
