APC, Labour Trade Allegations Over Bende Collation Centre Ahead of 2027
The APC in Abia State has alleged a plot by the Labour Party to disrupt the collation of election results at the Bende INEC centre, ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Labour Party has strongly denied these claims, accusing the APC of creating unnecessary tension in the state. Both parties are now calling for security and protection of electoral facilities and personnel.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP) in Abia State have traded allegations over an alleged 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, through its State Publicity Secretary, Chief Uche Aguoru, alleged that the Labour Party planned to disrupt the collation process and set ablaze the Bende Local Government headquarters, where the collation centre has reportedly operated for decades. The APC also claimed that the LP had submitted a petition to INEC, purportedly in the APC’s name, requesting that the centre be moved to Umuahia over an alleged threat to burn the facility, or to an open central school in Bende town.
The APC described the alleged petition as fake and unfounded and urged INEC to disregard it while calling on the DSS, National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of Police and Abia State Commissioner of Police to investigate its origin and strengthen security around the collation centre. The party further alleged that the purported document was intended to create confusion and disrupt the electoral process in Bende, and called on the Inspector-General of Police to caution the Labour Party against any attempt to cause a crisis during the election.
The Labour Party rejected the allegations, with its State Publicity Secretary, Emenike Iroegbu, accusing the APC of “deliberately inciting hatred, brewing bad blood and manufacturing false alarm” capable of disturbing peaceful coexistence in Abia State.
The LP further described the alleged plot as imagined, claiming that the APC raised the accusation after what it called the failure of its “clannish incitement strategy.” Both parties have called for INEC and security agencies to take steps to protect electoral facilities and personnel ahead of the 2027 elections, although they differ sharply over the origin and purpose of the disputed petition.
At present, the reported controversy remains a dispute between the two parties, with the APC alleging that the LP is behind the petition and the LP denying any plan to disrupt or attack the Bende collation centre.