Okezie Ikpeazu of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to have taken an unassailable lead in Saturday’s governorship election in Abia State. His vote count leapfrogged to 236,830 minutes ago, dwarfing the 147,720 of his closest rival, Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Otti enjoyed marginal advantage (134,000 votes as against 132,000 for Ikpeazu) as at the time the vote count was abruptly stopped late last night by the APGA agent, who insisted on the non-reversal of the decision by the State Collation Officer, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, to cancel results from Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa local governments, where violence and rigging were reportedly rampant.

At the resumed collation of results this morning after the APGA agent was pacified, APGA posted 4,295 votes in Ikwuano; PDP 2,465; 6,853 in Isiala Ngwa North; PDP 19,798; and a paltry 1,952 votes in Obingwa as against PDP’s 82,240 votes.

The only outstanding local government now is Ohafia, which is Otti’s stronghold.

•Photo shows Ikpeazu.