It was a night of drama in Umuahia as many supporters and agents of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Labour Party kept vigil at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, headquarters in Umuahia, Abia State.
The drama took place after INEC Returning Officer, Prof Nnenna Oti of the Federal University of Agriculture, Owerri, adjourned the election announcement to 10:00 am on Monday.
This was after results from 10 LGAs had been officially declared by the electoral umpire.
The supporters, who spent the entire Sunday awaiting the announcement of their preferred candidates as Governor-elect, were disappointed that the INEC could not meet their expectations but shifted the D-day to Monday.
By 9:00 pm on Sunday, INEC headquarters in Umuahia, PDP and LP supporters were still in the facility singing and dancing.
Speaking to our correspondent, some PDP supporters from Isiala Ngwa North, the home LGA of Okey Ahaiwe of PDP, vowed to remain in the INEC office until morning.
According to the Ahaiwe kinsmen, the vigil was to ensure that their son was not ‘robbed’.
It was the same scenario at the left wing of the INEC office in Umuahia as LP supporters were drumming and singing the praise of Dr Alex Otti, the guber candidate of LP.
The Otti supporters, who were more numerous, warned against any attempt to ‘deny’ Dr Alex Otti of his looming victory.
They cried out that there were attempts to smuggle in bloated results from Obingwa LGA.
The 10 LGAs areas already declared in Abia guber are Ikwuano, Isukwuato, Umunneochi, Arochukwu and Bende, cleared by Dr Alex Otti and his Labour Party.
Others are Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East and Ukwa West LGAs won by Sir Okey Ahaiwe of PDP.
The LGAs yet to be declared as of Monday morning are Obingwa, Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Osisioma, Ohafia, Aba North and Aba South.
Heavy security has been beefed up around INEC headquarters in the city as the eventual winner is expected to be declared before Monday evening.
As of the time of this report, INEC officials were ready to resume election results announcements.
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