Abia Election Rerun Updates

The Abia State election rerun kicked off with INEC officials at the state level employing all tricks to frustrate most of the officials sent from Abuja to enable a level playing ground for all. Last night, the Abuja field officers were seen tiredly spread on the premises of INEC in Umuahia and complaining of neglect by INEC in Abia. In the same vein, they were assigned to duty posts late morning today, making it practically impossible for them to get there on time.

Meanwhile, inside INEC office, a Federal Commissioner from Ebonyi State held sway. The man, one of the known but unseen hands for PDP in the April 11 elections, tweaked areas where elections are to be held today, presumably working with chieftains of PDP. Insiders say the Abuja list of where elections are to hold today is not consistent with the Umuahia list. Together with a female Federal Commissioner from Abia State  who is due to retire soon and the REC who has been working hand in gloves with the current governor, the Commissioner was bent on returning PDP as the winner of the April 11 election and partly accounted for the inconsistency of the Returning Officer in the drama that followed the verdict on the fake results from mainly three local government areas of the state. As accreditation is ongoing, here are briefs across state:
Umunneochi: Fracas broke out in Nkwoagu, the local government headquarters yesterday. Sensitive materials arrived Thursday night with only INEC and PDP officials available. By Friday, APGA representatives alleged an influx of fake adhoc staff from PDP. Before much could be said, thugs alleged to be working for PDP and led by one Akwaja from Mbala  Isuochi, and under the watch of the Transition Chairman of the local government unleashed mayhem. The son of a former Senator was stabbed badly by the thugs most of whom were alleged to have been 'imported' by the Transition Chairman. Later Friday night, the sensitive materials were taken back to, presumably, Umuahia with INEC officials saying the election in Umunneochi had been 'postponed'. This morning, military personnel and fringe INEC staff arrived, but substantive INEC officials did not. APGA led in Umuaku and Umunneochi in the April 11 elections with a landslide. Sensing a heavy defeat in his town, one Ebuga, led thugs loyal to the Transition Chairman to attack a vehicle carrying ballots cast by voters. It was on the pretext of that that PDP requested for the cancellation of the elections in Umuaku polling area. The question then is if INEC doesn't hold the election in Umuaku today, what happens to the votes previously cast?
Alaoji Park, Ugwunagbo: Thugs working for PDP were beating and scaring away would-be voters and the police helplessly looked on. The military arrived later and professionally restored order. Unfortunately, as soon as the military left after about forty minutes the thugs took over from where they stopped, and this time helped by the Police. That is the situation as at 1.20 p.m. today.
Ward 3, Aba South: As at 10:15 a.m., there were many registered voters waiting but no INEC officials.