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Entertainment News

Players And Supporters Attack Referee Over ‘Poor Officiating’ in Ebonyi Governor’s Cup

A referee has been given a thorough beating by players and supporters of an Ishielu Local Government Area team over poor officiating.
The players and supporters reportedly attacked the referee at the end of the Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru’s cup final match on Sunday evening, September 10.
It was gathered that the referee was chased all over the stadium as he ran for his life over alleged poor officiating in the match.
Normalcy was restored after the governor intervened in rescuing the referee from the angry supporters who overpowered the security men trying to protect him.
During the prize presentation ceremony, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi condemned the attack, describing the act as ‘shameful and embarrassing’.
“I did not expect the players to behave unprofessionally.
 
“Anyone not happy with a referee’s decision should not get to him but complain to the relevant officials.
 
“The person will still get a response and I am sure with what the sports commissioner told me, we will not have a repeat of this kind of violence,” he said.
The governor also announced that match officials for subsequent competitions will come from other states to avoid similar attacks.
“The match officials would not be known to anyone or any team.
 
“The sports commissioner has, however, shown his strength in organising such a competition and we would continue providing opportunities to empower and unite our youths,” he said.
Ebonyi LGA won the trophy by beating Ishielu 2-1 while Ohaozara LGA came third by defeating Izzi 1-0 in the third-place match.
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2023 Elections

Labour Party Supporters Storm INEC Office In Ebonyi Over Alleged Rigging

Daily Post reports that over 100 supporters of the Labour Party, LP, have staged a protest in Ebonyi State.

The party members especially in Abakaliki/Izzi and Ohaukwu/Ebonyi federal constituencies on Monday protested the alleged rigging, mutilation of election results and connivance of INEC officials with politicians to award figures to the candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The protesters who stormed INEC headquarters in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State, demanded that the results that were allegedly awarded to the candidates of APC be cancelled.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Say no to rigging,” “The power of the people is greater than the people in power,” “INEC should not play with our destiny,” and “Democracy is not a dictator’s sport.”

Other inscriptions include “Give us our victory,” “Let democracy reign,” “Say no to corruption,” “Our votes must count,” and “Say no to rigging.”

The protesters who spoke to newsmen through the candidates of the Labour Party, for Abakaliki/Izzi and Ohaukwu /Ebonyi federal constituencies at the INEC headquarters, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians, in general, to prevail on the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ebonyi State to do the right thing.

The Labour Party House of Representatives candidates for Abakaliki/Izzi and Ohaukwu /Ebonyi federal constituencies, Emmanuel Eze and Prince Chibueze Agbo alleged that “bad elements in INEC are trying to manipulate our results.”

Eze said: “The election results from Abakaliki/ Izzi federal constituency are yet to be declared up till now. They kept mutilating the results.

“This is 48 hours after the election has been conducted. They are manufacturing figures and we will not agree. The Electoral Officers for Abakaliki/ Izzi and Ohaukwu/Ebonyi federal constituencies should tell us how much they have collected to frustrate the wishes of the masses.

“I’m the candidate of LP for Abakaliki, Izzi federal constituency who won overwhelmingly. INEC must announce our results because Labour Party, LP, won the election.”

Prince Chibueze Agbo, who is contesting for Ohaukwu, Ebonyi Federal Constituency, said: “Nobody is happy with what is happening in Nigeria today. But I’m happy that the masses are giving the Obidient movement massive support everywhere.

“Those few bad elements in INEC that are trying to thwart the wishes of the masses will never succeed. I know, together we will get our mandate, and victory back. They (INEC) should not take the masses for granted. It’s better to allow the electoral revolution to prevail than violence.”