The Abia State governorship election has become stalemated following a dispute over results from the Ngwa stronghold of Okezie Ikpeazu of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

As earlier reported by News Express, Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was leading in six out of the 11 local governments declared.

The stalemate arose when APGA raised strong objection to the announcement of results from Osisioma, Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa North, leading to the Collating Officer’s decision to cancel them due to violence and electoral malpractice. This, however, did not go down well with PDP, which insisted on the acceptance of the results but with the cancellation of specific polling units where there was confirmed violence and ballot box snatching.

After a visit to the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by Governor Theodore Orji, the Collating Officer announced that the Ngwa results would be announced but with cancellation of 29 polling units where troubled was recorded. Thereafter, the Osisioma result was announced and was won by Ikpeazu, thus giving him the majority votes.

APGA, however, strongly resisted attempts to proceed with results from Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa North. Apart from these two, results from three other local governments are still pending.

•Photo shows PDP candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.