Mascot Kalu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency bye-election in Abia State has accepted the result of the poll.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Chimaobi Ebisike defeated Mascot Uzor Kalu the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and younger brother of Sen Orji Uzor Kalu.
The Independent National Electoral Commission’s Returning Officer for the constituency, Professor Fidelis Okpata said Ebesike polled 10,322 votes while Kalu polled 3,674 votes.
Reacting, Kalu ruled out legal action to challenge the result but noted that he had enough evidence to do so.
He said, “Even though we have enough evidence to reclaim our mandate, we won’t be going to court.
“This is to allow the winner to concentrate and provide good representation and infrastructure to the good people of Aba.
“Once again, I thank the Aba people for coming out en masse to vote for the APC and I congratulate the winner, Chimaobi Ebisike and PDP.
“It is not because they won but because it is gentlemanly to do so.”
Kalu, who is the younger brother of the Chief Whip of the Senate and former Abia governor, Sen. Orji Kalu, decried the level of thuggery, violence and rigging that allegedly characterised the poll.
He also stated that the unfortunate development called for “a deeper review of our electoral laws.”
“Every country is peculiar to it’s people. Nigerians should support the electoral law being amended because it will help us to strengthen our democracy.
“The Electoral Act as it is renders the security agencies with arms weak in the face of violence at the polls and therefore needs a revisit,” Kalu added.
He appealed to APC members and his supporters to accept the outcome of the election in good faith.
