2027: APC, Labour Trade Allegations Over Alleged Plot to Disrupt Bende Collation

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) in Abia State have traded allegations of a plan to disrupt the collation of election results at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collation centre in Bende ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The APC accused the Labour Party of planning to disrupt the collation process and set the Bende Local Government headquarters, where the party said the INEC collation centre has been situated for decades, ablaze.

However, the Labour Party dismissed the allegation as false, accusing the APC of deliberately raising alarm and attempting to create tension in the state ahead of the elections.

The APC made the allegation in a statement issued by its State Publicity Secretary, Chief Uche Aguoru.

According to the party, the Labour Party, which it alleged was anticipating defeat in the 2027 election, had written a petition to INEC purportedly originating from the APC.

The APC claimed that the petition called for the relocation of the Bende Collation Centre to Umuahia on the grounds of an alleged plan to burn the Bende Local Government headquarters.

It further alleged that the petition requested that, if the proposed relocation to Umuahia was not feasible, the collation centre be moved instead to an open central school in Bende town.

The APC urged INEC to disregard the petition, describing it as fake and unfounded.

The party also called on security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Inspector-General of Police and the Abia State Commissioner of Police, to investigate the origin of the petition and take steps to safeguard the collation centre.

The APC alleged that the purported petition was part of an attempt to create confusion and disrupt the electoral process in Bende.

It also urged the Inspector-General of Police to caution the Labour Party against what it described as any attempt to cause a crisis in the area during the election.

The party said it remained prepared to protect what it described as the mandate of Bende voters, while accusing the LP of allegedly seeking to create fear and panic among APC supporters.

Reacting to the allegation, the Labour Party rejected the APC’s claims and accused the ruling party of deliberately creating tension through what it described as false alarm.

In a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Emenike Iroegbu, the LP accused the APC of “deliberately inciting hatred, brewing bad blood and manufacturing false alarm” capable of disturbing peaceful coexistence in the state.

The party further alleged that the APC resorted to the claims after the failure of what it described as its “clannish incitement strategy.”

The LP said, “Having realised that their clannish incitement strategy has failed, the APC came wailing, crying foul and levying wild allegations about an imagined plot by the Labour Party to burn the INEC collation centre for Bende Federal Constituency.”

The Labour Party maintained that the allegation was an attempt to portray it as a threat to the electoral process and create unnecessary tension ahead of the 2027 elections.

The exchange came as political parties in Abia State began preparations for the 2027 general elections, with both parties calling for the protection of electoral facilities and personnel.

While the APC has called for an investigation into the origin of the alleged petition, the LP has denied any plan to disrupt or attack the Bende collation centre.

The two parties have consequently called on INEC and security agencies to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of electoral facilities, officials and voters ahead of the 2027 elections.