Governor David Umahi has said that Ebonyi State lost over 300, 000 votes that could have accrued to the Peoples Democratic Party in the ongoing Presidential elections as a result of malfunctioning of the Smart Card Reader.
Umahi state this while interacting with journalists on Monday as he arrived the State Capital from his Uburu hometown in Ohaozara local government area where he voted during the Saturday elections.
The Governor who congratulated the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Godswill Obioma; all the regular and ad-hoc staff of the Commission for a successful outing, observed that the Smart Card Reader needed to be further improved.
He called for the legalization of the Card Reader to assume a legal status in the judicial determination of election outcomes while insisting that Nigeria should adopt total ekectronic voting method to make its electoral system more efficient.
Umahi, however, expressed pride that Ebonyi was able to deliver over 260,000 votes to the Peoples Democratic Party in the Presidential elections while sweeping all the National Assembly polls in the State.
Umahi who seized the opportunity to condole with families of those who may have lost their lives discharging their duties, especially the INEC Ad-hoc workers, admonished all Stakeholders to see election as a friendly game rather than a war.
He noted that election outcomes should provide opportunities for leaders to re-evaluate their actions, policies and dispositions towards the citizens, adding that God was not done with his plans for Nigeria.
Governor Umahi who on arrival to Abakaliki, the State Capital, embarked on inspection of ongoing projects across State, told Journalists that he was not worried about next Saturday’s Governorship election, adding that God who brought him to office by His mercy and grace, had destined winning for him.
He noted that the numerous life- touching projects embarked upon by his administration across the State and the unquenching desire to better the lives of the people were paramount in his agenda than sitting back to strategize on an election that belongs to God.
Umahi said: “I congratulate Ebonyians and Nigeriansfor trouping out en masse to vote.
“I commend the INEC chairman and the State REC with all their Staff for an improved election.
“I also commend the Security Agencies in the State for their over 90 percent impartiality, respect for laws of Nigeria; the electoral laws and for refusing to in spite of pressures from some Political quarters.
“The election can be described as successful, even though there were hiccups emanating from the Smart Card Readers.
“In Ebonyi State, we lost over 300, 000 votes due to mal-functioning Card Readers but I am happy that we are able to deliver over 260, 000 votes to the PDP.
“I started my campaign from the first day I assumed office.
“So, I am for projects now.
“We have a duty and conscience to work for the good of the people for which God has called us.
“So, my driving passion are the projects; the desire to better the lives of the people.”
Governor Umahi who reiterated that President Muhammadu Buhari remains his friend whether the President wins in the election or not, adding: “the President remains the Boss of all the Governors.”
Umahi bashed Nnamdi Kanu’s Indegenous People of Biafra over alleged statement attributed to the group that the South-East Governors had entered into accord with President Buhari to deliver nothing less than 25 percent of the votes from the zone to him.
He described such statement as enanating from ignorance of what leadership and elections stood for.