{By TOBIAS EKIRIKA- Onitsha}
Amid reports of irregularities and violence during the Ogbaru 1 State Constituency Primaries, Chief Hon. Kenneth Akwuobi, a prominent candidate and the Mayor of Ogbaru Local Government Area, is demanding that the election held on Saturday, May 23, be annulled.
Following the primary election conducted across several wards in Okpoko, Hon. Akwuobi accused the current representative of Ogbaru 1 State Constituency, Hon. Noble Igwe, of orchestrating disruptions and introducing irregularities that affected the voting process in Okpoko Wards 1 to 6.
He further claimed that Hon. Igwe had printed accreditation cards bearing his image, allegedly aiming to manipulate the primary election in Ward 3, but was intercepted by security officials from Okpoko Police Station.
Additionally, Hon. Akwuobi stated that Hon. Igwe brought in thugs who intimidated his supporters, complicating the primary election in the aforementioned wards. He also accused Igwe of wandering from his own Ward 6 to other wards, including Ward 3, causing confusion in violation of primary election regulations.
Another aspirant, Hon. Stephen Nnamezie, echoed the call for cancelation of the Ogbaru Constituency 1 party primary election, citing similar allegations against the incumbent.
Elochukwu Alagbaosu, the APGA youth leader from Okpoko Ward 6, reported to journalists that he was assaulted by thugs associated with Hon. Noble Igwe while attempting to address the irregularities.
Alagbaosu urged APGA leadership to annul the election and arrange a re-run, or alternatively, disqualify Hon. Noble Igwe.
In response, Hon. Igwe refuted the accusations, asserting he did not deploy thugs to disrupt the election and that he only entered Ward 3 after being informed of issues there.
Regarding the printed accreditation cards, Hon. Igwe clarified that they were materials used for his campaign, not for election accreditation.
A supporter of Hon. Igwe, who wished to remain unnamed, stated that they mistakenly brought the cards to the election venue, denying any intent to manipulate the primary.
Our reporter was unable to reach the DPO of Okpoko Police Division regarding the alleged arrest but learned from a senior police officer that while no arrests related to the printed cards were made, police did recover the cards that political thugs had abandoned while fleeing.
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