Okigwe Zone Senate, Reps Elections: Uwujuomgu ,Onuoha, APC Calls For Total Cancellation Of Polls Due To Alleged Gross Irregularities
Dan Opara
The Imo APC Senatorial Candidate for Okigwe Zone,Sen.Benjamin Uwajumogu,was on Monday,Feb.25th 2019, vehemently called on the need for the cancellation of the Imo North Senatorial election held on Saturday,23th 2019,due to gross irregularities observed in the entire six (6) LGA’s in the zone.
Speaking to the media,Sen.Uwajumogu,who in the company of the APC House of Reps.candidate for Okigwe North ( Isiala Mbano,Onuimo and Okigwe Feb.Constituency),jointly alleged that the whole exercise in the area,according to the APC Agent of Imo North Senatorial Zone to formerly complain to the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner,REC,about the gross irregularities observed during the National Assembly election exercise held last Saturday in Okigwe Zone.
Sen.Benjamin,said “no collation of result was done at the ward levels as required by law,rather all the polling units results were taken to the local govt.for collation which is contrary to the electrol acts laws which states that – collation should be done at the ward level before proceeding to the local govt. My agents complained that they did not see any ward collation officers and they contacted the Electrol Offices,EPS,in all the LGA’s and the Electrol Officers,EOs,confirmed that all the collations are being done at the LG. We also observed the same at the Collation Center in Ishinweke Ihitte Uboma,and I saw all the CO’s collating polling units’s results instead of ward results. Same observation in Obowo LGA’s and Four (4) LGA’s in Okigwe zone,that I was able to visit during the collation period”,Uwajumogu alleged.
“Violence marred most polling booths,ballot boxes snatching,mutilating of electrol figures. Isiala Mbano,the INEC office was burnt down and all the electrol materials destroyed. In Ehime Mbano,the Collation Officer absconded with the result sheets. In Ihitte-Uboma,the opposition party (PDP) intimidated the Electoral Officers with death threats. In Onuimo,our Party Agents were abducted by masked gunnen. No collation was done at Ward Levels contrary to the provisions of the Electrol Act”,the APC candidate alleged.
Adding her voice,the APC House of Reps.Candidate for Okigwe,North,Prince Onuoha,lamented that she was allegedly uncountable irregularities in the entire Okigwe zone and therefore called for total rejection and cancellation of the whole election exercise held in the area.
Prince Onuoha moreso accused that the polls were allegedly marred with electrol fraud.
“I was winning the polls with a very wide margin before the thugs from the opposition parties disrupted the election.
I have tendered my application and appealed for the total cancellation of the National Assembly elections in Onuimo LGA,were she alleged violence,shooting and snatching of ballot boxes which distrupted the voting process in voting units in Owerre Okwe Ward especially on polling units in Umudike. Umuna Ward 8 was characterized by voting-buying,intimidation and violence by Action Alliance,AA,members and supporters. Ofeahia/Umuanumeze Ward,Aboh/Okohia,Ozimo Umuanumeze Wards experienced high level of intimidation and harassment of voters by some unknown armed thugs. Okwelle Ward I and II witnessed sporadic shootings,vote buying and influencing of results by the AA and PDP Agents. One Hon.Mrs.Nkeiru Oluechi,impersonated AA and APC on different occasion,while another person,Hon.Robinson Ekwebelem,also impersonated as agents of AA-APC in the exercise. All these happened at the booths,wards and LGA levels”,the APC Collation Agent for Onuimo LGA,revealed.
Speaking,the Imo APGA candidate for Okigwe North Reps.seat,Hon.Chikwem Onuoha,told newsmen that he has been announced the winner of the exercise,even as he extolled INEC for pronouncing him the winner of the polls held in Okigwe North.
Chikwem Onuoha therefore called on those who contested the same position with him to accept defect and embrace him as such would foster rapid development and peace and unity in Okigwe North.
“I am very much excited and happy to be announced as the winner by INEC and I am ready to work with all those who ran for the position with me”,Hon.Chikwem submitted.
