STORY ACCORDING TO TONYE BARCANISTA. (A MUST READ)
My Experience As Member Of PDP Situation Team In The Abia
North Rerun Election .
In the early hours of Thursday, March 3, 2016 I was informed by
a leader of the PDP Social Media Directorate that I would be part
of the PDP Social Media situation team to travel to Abia state for
the Abia North Senatorial re-run election involving PDP's candidate
Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and other contestants including PPA's
Orji Uzor Kalu, APGA's Dr. David Onuoha-Bourdex and APC's
Nnenna Nma Okoro. The election was scheduled on Saturday
(March 5), while I and other team members were supposed to be
in Abia state latest on Friday afternoon.
While preparing to leave Lagos state for Abia state, I kept
wondering whether I can do the task. I have never monitored
election situation before on behalf of any interest group, not to
talk of doing same in an area that wasn't a 'comfort zone' for me.
That was indeed a challenge for me. At this juncture, I have to
give credit to Mr Newman Ubani, the Senior Special Assistant on
New Media to Abia state Governor Ikezie Okpeazu, for his
continuous assurance of myself and members of the team of a
memorable outing in Abia state. Another person worthy of
commendation is Ikechukwu Iroha, an Aide of Newman Ubani. Ike
called me while I was in Lagos and kept calling to check on my
state of mind as I was about to embark on the Journey.
From Lagos To Abia state
On Friday morning at 4:30AM, I embarked on the road trip to
Umuahia, Abia state so as to meet up with members of the team
led by Prince Deji Adeyanju, the PDP New Media Director. The
SSA Ubani and Ikechukwu continuously inquired of my state all
through the trip. I felt so loved and wanted. I entered Umuahia at
4:09PM and I was greeted with a state that is highly
misrepresented in the media. Abia state appeared peaceful but I
kept wondering the reason behind miitary check points.
At 4:15PM I was in Abia Line park in Umuahia, before getting to the
park I was informed that the team have left Umuahia for
Arochuckwu. That means I'd have to move to Aro(as it is fondly
called). Ikechukwu apologised for not being able to pick me at
Umuahia but assured me that my trip to Aro won't be trouble.
Francisca, a member of the team informed me that I would board
bus going to Aro at Aba park in Umuahia. At Abia line park, I met
a boy named Chris and asked him to connect me to a tricycle
(keke) that will take me to Aba park. Chris said, "Dei(meaning
senior), Aba park no far na, we fit wakar go there". He
accompanied me to the park and it was only less than 3minutes
walk. I offered him N500 for the troubles but he declined
respectfully saying that he's helping me for the love of God.
I boarded bus to Aro and while in the bus, I could hear the driver
and other passengers discussing in Igbo language, but I could
figure that it was connected with the election as they kept
mentioning the names of Uzor Kalu, Mao and Bourdex. The road
to Aro was in a sorry state(unlike what I saw in Umuahia), I
asked the driver that "oga why una road to Aro de bad like dis",
the man first response was to heap curse on Uzor Kalu(because
he was from the zone). In the bus, I tried to inquire their
preferred candidate and I couldn't believe when the name of Sen
Mao of PDP was echoed by most passengers, whilea few echoed
Bourdex(APGA). Not a single soul mentioned Nnenna of APC or
OUK of PPA. According to them, OUK was insensitive and APC
will not win a single election in Abia state. I asked of their
assessment of Gov Okezie Ikpeazu and the passengers were
singing his praise for the transformation of Abia state especialy
Abangwa(Aba).
At Arochukwu...
On getting to Aro at 7:59PM, I was received by Deji Adeyanju, the
indefatigable Sola Kuti(SK) and other members of the team
including Marvin, Francisca, Uche, Justice and a member of Abia
Online. Mr Uche, an Aide of Senator Mao, as well as an Aide of
Governor Ikpeazu admonished us that they aren't desperate to win
the poll but we should ensure that we don't condone irregularity in
our situation report. Sen Mao told us that power is given by God
and the people, hence, we should let the people's will be
reflected. It was so rare to see a Naija politician make such
pronouncement. I admired the calm of the Senator and his
associates. SSA Ubani, Ikechuckwu and their Abia Online team
were busy updating Abians through the Abia Online platform on
Facebook and Twitter. I pleaded with them to consider opening
an account on Nairaland forum so as to update Abians and get
feedback(they are indeed doing great job on Facebook and
Twitter). Deji, our team leader was so brotherly and made
everyone felt like equals even when someone like me is the least
in "class" among the group.
Election and Post Election Events
The next day was election day and we were all set. We monitored
the situation Polling booth by booth, ward by ward and LGA by
LGA. There was 5 LGAs in Abia North. From the results, Sen Mao
was in comfortable lead in four LGAs including his Arochuckwu
LGA, while we weren't able to get the result of Bende LGA that
Saturday night. However, we were able to get the result of two
wards in Bende, which were both won comfortably by Senator
Mao of PDP. We slept that night only to wake up to hear that
Uzor Kalu of PPA had manufactured 14,000 votes from Bende
alone to reduce Senator Mao's led to just 192 votes. That was a
clear case of fraud as NO single LG returned up to 8,000 votes,
so why Bende when Bende wasn't even the most populated?
Another funny thing was that The Sun Newspaper owned by Kalu
and BreakingTimes were publishing that the election has been
declared inconclusive when INEC's returning officer was yet to
make pronouncement. We called the attention of INEC and the
masses to that illegal act and as God will have it, Senator Mao
was declared winner and returned as Senator to represent Abia
North in the 8th Senate. It was indeed a victory for the people.
Ikechukwu was a walkaholic. He took the team around and never
had time for himself.
Abia State Is Working
That said, what surprised me most wasn't even the election
victory, neither was it the fact that APC couldn't score up to
1,000 vote in the rerun election. What surprised most me was the
look of Abia state in all sectors under Ikpeazu and the
accommodating spirit of Abians. I had to spend the night in
Umuahia with members of the team, while Deji and Justice flew
to Abuja to meet up with a court case that was scheduled on
Monday, I felt so much at home. The next day, I embarked on
my journey to Lagos, and arrived safely. Abians are blessed!
Vote Of Thanks
I am most grateful to Deji for such rare opportunity, to oga
Churchill, Sir Sola Kuti(SK), SSA Ubani and his Abia online team,
Ikechukwu, my team members Uche, Marvin, Francisca and
Justice for their support and cooperation, and the PDP family for
their brotherhood and prayer. Thanks also to Abia state
government and the humble Senator Mao, and his associates that
made me feel like an equal in their midst.
Tonye is a social commentator and member PDP social media directorate.
North Rerun Election .
 |
| Barcanista |
In the early hours of Thursday, March 3, 2016 I was informed by
a leader of the PDP Social Media Directorate that I would be part
of the PDP Social Media situation team to travel to Abia state for
the Abia North Senatorial re-run election involving PDP's candidate
Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and other contestants including PPA's
Orji Uzor Kalu, APGA's Dr. David Onuoha-Bourdex and APC's
Nnenna Nma Okoro. The election was scheduled on Saturday
(March 5), while I and other team members were supposed to be
in Abia state latest on Friday afternoon.
While preparing to leave Lagos state for Abia state, I kept
wondering whether I can do the task. I have never monitored
election situation before on behalf of any interest group, not to
talk of doing same in an area that wasn't a 'comfort zone' for me.
That was indeed a challenge for me. At this juncture, I have to
give credit to Mr Newman Ubani, the Senior Special Assistant on
New Media to Abia state Governor Ikezie Okpeazu, for his
continuous assurance of myself and members of the team of a
memorable outing in Abia state. Another person worthy of
commendation is Ikechukwu Iroha, an Aide of Newman Ubani. Ike
called me while I was in Lagos and kept calling to check on my
state of mind as I was about to embark on the Journey.
From Lagos To Abia state
On Friday morning at 4:30AM, I embarked on the road trip to
Umuahia, Abia state so as to meet up with members of the team
led by Prince Deji Adeyanju, the PDP New Media Director. The
SSA Ubani and Ikechukwu continuously inquired of my state all
through the trip. I felt so loved and wanted. I entered Umuahia at
4:09PM and I was greeted with a state that is highly
misrepresented in the media. Abia state appeared peaceful but I
kept wondering the reason behind miitary check points.
At 4:15PM I was in Abia Line park in Umuahia, before getting to the
park I was informed that the team have left Umuahia for
Arochuckwu. That means I'd have to move to Aro(as it is fondly
called). Ikechukwu apologised for not being able to pick me at
Umuahia but assured me that my trip to Aro won't be trouble.
Francisca, a member of the team informed me that I would board
bus going to Aro at Aba park in Umuahia. At Abia line park, I met
a boy named Chris and asked him to connect me to a tricycle
(keke) that will take me to Aba park. Chris said, "Dei(meaning
senior), Aba park no far na, we fit wakar go there". He
accompanied me to the park and it was only less than 3minutes
walk. I offered him N500 for the troubles but he declined
respectfully saying that he's helping me for the love of God.
I boarded bus to Aro and while in the bus, I could hear the driver
and other passengers discussing in Igbo language, but I could
figure that it was connected with the election as they kept
mentioning the names of Uzor Kalu, Mao and Bourdex. The road
to Aro was in a sorry state(unlike what I saw in Umuahia), I
asked the driver that "oga why una road to Aro de bad like dis",
the man first response was to heap curse on Uzor Kalu(because
he was from the zone). In the bus, I tried to inquire their
preferred candidate and I couldn't believe when the name of Sen
Mao of PDP was echoed by most passengers, whilea few echoed
Bourdex(APGA). Not a single soul mentioned Nnenna of APC or
OUK of PPA. According to them, OUK was insensitive and APC
will not win a single election in Abia state. I asked of their
assessment of Gov Okezie Ikpeazu and the passengers were
singing his praise for the transformation of Abia state especialy
Abangwa(Aba).
At Arochukwu...
On getting to Aro at 7:59PM, I was received by Deji Adeyanju, the
indefatigable Sola Kuti(SK) and other members of the team
including Marvin, Francisca, Uche, Justice and a member of Abia
Online. Mr Uche, an Aide of Senator Mao, as well as an Aide of
Governor Ikpeazu admonished us that they aren't desperate to win
the poll but we should ensure that we don't condone irregularity in
our situation report. Sen Mao told us that power is given by God
and the people, hence, we should let the people's will be
reflected. It was so rare to see a Naija politician make such
pronouncement. I admired the calm of the Senator and his
associates. SSA Ubani, Ikechuckwu and their Abia Online team
were busy updating Abians through the Abia Online platform on
Facebook and Twitter. I pleaded with them to consider opening
an account on Nairaland forum so as to update Abians and get
feedback(they are indeed doing great job on Facebook and
Twitter). Deji, our team leader was so brotherly and made
everyone felt like equals even when someone like me is the least
in "class" among the group.
Election and Post Election Events
The next day was election day and we were all set. We monitored
the situation Polling booth by booth, ward by ward and LGA by
LGA. There was 5 LGAs in Abia North. From the results, Sen Mao
was in comfortable lead in four LGAs including his Arochuckwu
LGA, while we weren't able to get the result of Bende LGA that
Saturday night. However, we were able to get the result of two
wards in Bende, which were both won comfortably by Senator
Mao of PDP. We slept that night only to wake up to hear that
Uzor Kalu of PPA had manufactured 14,000 votes from Bende
alone to reduce Senator Mao's led to just 192 votes. That was a
clear case of fraud as NO single LG returned up to 8,000 votes,
so why Bende when Bende wasn't even the most populated?
Another funny thing was that The Sun Newspaper owned by Kalu
and BreakingTimes were publishing that the election has been
declared inconclusive when INEC's returning officer was yet to
make pronouncement. We called the attention of INEC and the
masses to that illegal act and as God will have it, Senator Mao
was declared winner and returned as Senator to represent Abia
North in the 8th Senate. It was indeed a victory for the people.
Ikechukwu was a walkaholic. He took the team around and never
had time for himself.
Abia State Is Working
 |
| Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia state governor |
That said, what surprised me most wasn't even the election
victory, neither was it the fact that APC couldn't score up to
1,000 vote in the rerun election. What surprised most me was the
look of Abia state in all sectors under Ikpeazu and the
accommodating spirit of Abians. I had to spend the night in
Umuahia with members of the team, while Deji and Justice flew
to Abuja to meet up with a court case that was scheduled on
Monday, I felt so much at home. The next day, I embarked on
my journey to Lagos, and arrived safely. Abians are blessed!
Vote Of Thanks
I am most grateful to Deji for such rare opportunity, to oga
Churchill, Sir Sola Kuti(SK), SSA Ubani and his Abia online team,
Ikechukwu, my team members Uche, Marvin, Francisca and
Justice for their support and cooperation, and the PDP family for
their brotherhood and prayer. Thanks also to Abia state
government and the humble Senator Mao, and his associates that
made me feel like an equal in their midst.
Tonye is a social commentator and member PDP social media directorate.
Post a Comment