Imo West INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Ibeawuchi Reveals How He Was Forced To Declare Fake Result In Orlu

Dan Opara

A FUTO Lecturer attached as an INEC adhoc staff as the Returning Officer ,RO, Professor Ibeawuchi Izuchukwu, has continued to his revelation that he was intimidated and forced by some political supporters of the Imo APC Senatorial Candidate for Imo West Senatorial District (Orlu zone Senate),Rochas Okorocha to announce him as the winner of the election exercise held in the zone last Saturday,Feb.23th 2019,even as he described the outcome of the polls as inconclusive due to some alleged electoral fraud and irregularities.

The RO said that the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha ordered his cohorts who held him hostage from over one hour, demanded that he should announce their principal (Rochas) as the winner of the supposed fake result that was generated from 7-8 LGA’s out of the 12 LGA’s in the zone.

Professor Izuchukwu revealed that the number of the total votes brought did not match, but maintained that he was dragged under by Rochas’s mob and their pressure mounted on him.

In an interaction with Governor Okorocha’s Special Adviser on Electronic Media, Dr.Ebere Nzewuji, concerning the matter, he alleged that the opposition parties paid the RO, Prof.Ibeawuchi to insist that he signed and announced APC winner of Orlu Senate Polls under duress.

Nzewuji described Ibeawuchi’s actions and comments as false and untrue.

Also in a phone chat-interview with the Public Relations Officer of INEC Imo State Mrs. Emmanuella Opara,she said that INEC going to  investigate the matter.

Also with the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Imo State, Mr.Godson Orlando Ikeokwu, requested that he would speak on the issue on the next day as at the time of filing in the reports.

Meanwhile, the RO his continued words, lamented and cried out bitterly that his life and that of his wife and children are in danger.

“I am a man of integrity, I  cannot be bought over, even if I have a family of five children, we cannot able to consume my one month salary, so how can I be bribed?”, RO asked.

” I only did that to save the people from electoral frauds. I have plans and I have early decided to cancel those LGA’s (7-8 State Constituencies) in Orlu zone, because I noticed irregularities and rigging but Rochas’s group forced me under duress to announce him winner”, Prof. Ibeawuchi restated.

However, the University Don, Innocent in his passionate words, appealed to Imolites, Nigerians, the Police and all the security agencies to keep on praying for him, as he stated that his life is on threat since the pronouncement of the duress result.

He spoke to journalists in Owerri last Monday, aftermath of the whole electioneering sagas in Orlu.