…Says APGA victory irreversible
Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has raised the alarm over a
perceived attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to collaborate
with the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and
manipulate the result of the Oguta assembly seat rerun election which
clearly has the candidate of the All Progressives Grand
Alliance(APGA), Hon. Walter Uzonwanne as the winner.
The governor, who addressed newsmen in government house, described the
declaration of the election ‘inconclusive’ as slap on the democracy
and another wicked move to subvert the mandate Oguta people gave to
the APGA candidate in the last Saturday rerun election.
Describing the development as totally unacceptable by the government
and people of Imo state, Gov. Okorocha, urged INEC to uphold its
integrity by announcing the result as duly collated and released by
its returning officer, Dr. Cynthia Oguike to avoid facing the wrath of
the people.
The governor submitted that election in Oguta has become
dramatic as it is the very first time people of the area are having
the liberty of exercising the right of electing their representative.
” It is a common knowledge that for so many years, no actual election
has taken place in Oguta. It has always been a one-man show which has
continued to keep the people in bondage. This government is
determined to ensure that the people of Oguta is liberated from the
clutches of these evil men that parade themselves as leaders.
Governor Okorocha further posited that now the people of Oguta, Imo state
and by extension Nigeria have risen to their responsibility to
ensure that democracy is practiced in the area, INEC should be fair
enough to ensure that justice and fairness prevail.
While expressing disappointment with the manner PDP has continued to
handle democracy in the country with particular reference to Oguta
state
constituency election, Gov. Okorocha regretted that democracy which
was fought for by all and sundry and with many loosing their lives,
is at the verge of being destroyed by the ruling party, adding that if
the ugly situation is not checkmated, it would certainly rubbish the
integrity the Independent
National Election Commission (INEC) had built for itself after the
2011 elections.
The governor also condemned the manner in which some chieftains of the PDP
in Imo state based in Abuja paraded themselves with heavily armed
security escorts with the intention of rigging the election.
He also acknowledged that the election was peaceful despite the harassment
that the All progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) members suffered in the
hands of PDP, pointing out that their excesses stemmed from the fact
that they control power at the national level.
Gov. Okorocha pointed out that the results released by INEC and signed
by its returning officer, Dr. Cynthia Oguike shows that APGA
candidate, Hon. Walter Uzonwanne is leading with 9,595 votes from 121
polling
booths out of 129 in Oguta state constituency while the PDP candidate, Chief
Eugene Dibiagwu polled 7,7584votes.
While appealing to Imo people to remain calm and law-abiding, Gov. Okorocha
called on INEC to maintain their hard earned integrity and announce the
result without further delay.
