The Abia Elders Consultative Forum has attributed the impressive performance of the Labour Party in Saturday’s elections to the failure of the two major political parties in the country.
Chairman of the forum, ArchBishop Princewill Ariwodor, in a chat with Vanguard, said it was a demonstration of people’s disenchantment with the mega parties.
Ariwodor said: “The mega parties have failed the people. They have betrayed the people enough and they have no other choice than to go for a total change.
“So, the Labour Party provided the platform for the needed change. This is the first time people are coming out en mass to vote.
“This is a demonstration of how bitter the people are over the rape of democracy in the country. The mega parties have abused democracy.
“And if this was not demonstrated, politicians won’t learn their lessons. People are prepared to demonstrate more if their mandate is tampered with.
“They are prepared to show their bitterness if any attempt is made to subvert their will.”
INEC official shot dead in Delta
Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Delta State, Rev. Monday Udoh-Tom, yesterday, confirmed the killing of an election official after Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.
Udoh-Tom, who spoke with newsmen in Asaba, stated that the unnamed official was shot on his way to deliver election results on Saturday at Ukwani Local Government Area of the state.
The REC said: “There was an attack in Ukwani LGA where one of our staff was shot on his way with the election results after the election.
“The gunmen opened fire at their bus and unfortunately killed the INEC official and others sustained injuries.
“The other ad hoc staff who were injured were identified as members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.
“The NYSC corps members are now receiving treatment, but we are planning on how to move them to a hospital in Asaba,” Udoh-Tom.”
Vanguard