By-election: APC’s Mascot Kalu concedes defeat

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Aba North/South Federal Constituency, Hon. Mascot Orji Uzor Kalu has conceded defeat to PDP that was declared winner in the election that took place on Saturday, March 27, 2021.

He urged Party faithful and supporters to also accept the outcome, but continue to support APC and make it stronger.

CAPITAL POST reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission, earlier on Sunday declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Chimaobi Ebisike winner, having polled 10,322 votes to defeat APC’s Mascot Uzor Kalu, who polled 3,674 votes.

But in a statement which he sent to CAPITAL POST on Sunday, Kalu alledged involvement of thuggery and called for the review of electoral law that would make it impossible for thugs to determine election results.

Part of the statement read:
“We appeal to ourmembers to accept the outcome of the elections in good faith while appreciating them for making the Party stronger in Abia.

“While the opposition wanted the election at all cost, we chose life over bloodshed and therefore won lives and lost the polls. To us, that was a greater victory.

“The level of thuggery, violence and rigging that occurred in the election calls for a deeper review of our electoral laws.

“Every country is peculiar to it’s people, all Nigerian should support the electoral laws that is being amended as it would assist us in getting our democracy strengthened.

“The electoral laws as it is renders the security agencies without arms weak in the face of violence at the polls and therefore needs a revisit.

Granted that the armless police should be inside the polling units, the armed should be within fifty meters away from the units.

“Our opponents flooded the city with thugs numbering over 20,000. Traders were threatened with text messages to keep away or lose their lives.

“My campaign officers and our Party agents were kidnapped, even the Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Prof Joseph Iloh was manhandled by thugs at the Aba polytechnic.

“We campaigned vigorously and Aba people were expectant of improvement from what late Ossy Prestige of blessed memory did. My only concern is that Aba people lost. They lost a quality representation and chance to have added infrastructure in Aba.”