Dan Opara
The last Feb.23rd 2019 Senatorial election exercise held in Orlu Zone (Imo West Senatorial District) which the Returning Officer,Prof.Innocent Izuchukwu Ibeawuchi, announced the APC candidate,Rochas Okorocha as the winner of the electoral combat under duress has been described as hieght of impunity,illegal,unlawful and undemocratic against the true winner,Hon.Jones C.Onyeriri,who is the PDP Senatorial candidate for the polls.
In his claim,the Orlu Zonal Chairman of PDP,Hon.Chief Alloy Igwe,yesterday,March 1st 2019,during a media chat with newsmen,expressively insisted that the PDP candidate for the election in Orlu Senate,Hon.Onyeriri,overwhelmingly won the election against with wide margins,but expressed dissatisfaction over what he described as a charred of electoral irregularities,rigging and unlawful intimidation of the Returning Officer,RO,Prof.Ibeawuchi by the PDP candidate whom he alleged of using his power as the incumbent State Governor to thwarted and manipulated the whole exercise with his cohorts in his favour.
Chief Igwe,who spoke on behalf of the people of Orlu zone especially leaders of the party,members and supporters of PDP,appealed to the INEC as the electoral umpire to ensure that the declaration is strictly reversed for the victory of Sir.Onyeriri of PDP,who truly won the election.
“We in PDP Orlu Zone Extraction gave rejected the alleged victory of APC and Okorocha,because it was our mandate stolen and we have resolved to reclaim our divine mandate.
We have bemoaned and lampooned INEC for declaring Okorocha,APC winner of the Orlu Senatorial polls. ,Offcourse,the declaration was under duress”,Orlu Zonal Leaders cried out.
“The exercise was inconclusive earlier,according to the RO,whom they quoted. Let INEC to declare Onyeriri winner of the whole exercise in Orlu.
The PDP Senatorial Candidate,Sir.Jones Onyeriri,in his own voice,said that the press interview was to give way for more electioneering investigations because the Military (Army) aided APC and the Governor to rig the polls.
He accused the Chief Rochas Okorocha and the govt.of APC of using fake Soliders and fake Military personnels to work against the wishes of the electorates.
“Can you imagine a situation where two
Assistant Police Commissioners were posted in the same zone,only because they wanted to rig out PDP?,Amongst the two Police Commissioners,one of them is fake and the Police Officers took place in the election.The Military personnels were right inside the Collation Centers,seen working for APC. There were a lot of fraudulent activities in OhajiEgbema where PDP is winning”,Onyeriri fingered.
Adding his voice,the Imo PDP Deputy Governorship candidate,Hon.Gerald Irona,who hails from Oguta LGA of Imo State,also fingered the Military personels at Addax Oil installations for their obvious participation against PDP.
He alleged that APC used card readers to manipulate the whole exercise,even as he called on INEC to announce PDP as the winner or cancel the election in the entire Orlu Zone.
“Though PDP won but APC rigged. Moreso, INEC deliberately delayed the distribution of sensitive materials in collation centers were Form EC 8B was allegedly missing”,Irona stated.
He warned and advised the INEC to be very careful and make sure that the card readers works because if failed to work effectively in the last election.
“If case is not taken,PDP may pull out from the peace accord already signed”,Irona threatened.
“Rochas was at the Collation Center by himself. He allegedly held the RO hostage and such action by Okorocha was an illegal act which must be questioned”,Irona reiterated.
Meanwhile,Hon.Kingsley Echendu,the PDP candidate for Isu,Njaba,Nkwerre and Nwangele,said “we are now living in fear due to the injustice,buying of votes and rigging that took place in the whole Orlu Zone by APC”.
Hon.Echendu,therefore expressed readiness for INEC to announce him as the winner of the election held on Feb.23rd 2019.
