Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who represents Abia North senatorial district, has vehemently denied any role in the alleged disenfranchisement of the people of Abiriba in the February 25 National Assembly elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The lawmaker has refuted claims that he accused the Agboji and Ameke communities in Abiriba of sympathizing with the IPOB’s agitations, resulting in a lack of voter turnout. He deems these allegations as baseless and unfounded….CONTINUE READING
This response from the former Abia governor comes in the wake of accusations by the Abiriba Communal Improvement Union (ACIU), which insists that Sen. Kalu’s purported comments played a pivotal role in discouraging their participation in the election out of fear of reprisals.
In a paid newspaper advertorial, ACIU stated that Sen. Kalu’s alleged remarks influenced INEC’s decision not to deploy officials to the community, ultimately leading to the disenfranchisement of their people.
The community’s statement in the advertorial contradicts itself at times, claiming that INEC officials did not appear for the National Assembly election in the community and, at other times, asserting that they arrived but at an inappropriate hour.
In response to these allegations, Sen. Kalu’s media aide, Hon. Maduka Okoro, has vehemently denied any truth in ACIU’s claims. Okoro clarified that Sen. Kalu does not have the authority to deploy INEC officials and should not be held responsible for any alleged disenfranchisement in Abiriba.
Okoro pointed out that the low voter turnout in some polling units in Abiriba was largely due to threats by IPOB, a situation that was documented by security agencies and corroborated by INEC.
He stated, “Sen. Kalu has consistently demonstrated that he is a leader for all. As a governor, he constructed the majority of the roads in Abiriba, which are still in use today. He has never shown bias against any clan in Abia State.
“As a Senator, he has continued to uphold this record through equitable distribution of democratic dividends. The people of Abiriba have benefited significantly from Sen. Kalu’s effective representation, based on his firm belief that we are all one.
“Even during his tenure as governor, many sons and daughters of Abiriba were appointed to key positions by Kalu. His love for all has been evident for years and will continue to be demonstrated.
“It is disheartening that ACIU, a socio-cultural organization, has ventured into politics instead of focusing on community development and cultural preservation.
“Blaming Sen. Kalu for the perceived late arrival of INEC officials is unwarranted. Should Orji Kalu also be held responsible for the delayed arrival of INEC officials in polling units in Delta, Nasarawa, Kogi, Sokoto, and elsewhere in the country? This issue is not unique to Abia alone.”
