After weeks of speculations and rumours surrounding the next line of action for the Imo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following their loss of the Imo governorship seat to the All Progressive Congress (APC), the PDP governorship candidate and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha has filed a petition before the Elections Petitions Tribunal in Owerri, challenging the re-election of Governor Rochas Okorocha for a second term.
Ihedioha had earlier inferred that the people’s votes did not count, alleging conspiracy between the APC and the INEC.
In suit number EPT/IM/GOV/3/2015 filed by Ihedioha and the PDP against Okorocha, APC and 35 other respondents, Ihedioha maintained that the election was flawed irredeemably by violence, intimidation, widespread malpractices and partisanship on the part of INEC.
Ihedioha also stressed that the process was fraught with substantial non-compliances particularly the extensive infringement of paragraph 28 of the guidelines for the 2015 election by declaring results on votes obtained without accreditation or in excess of accredited voters, and the total breach of the principle of neutrality embedded in the Electoral Act as flagrantly perpetrated by INEC staff and agents.
The lawmaker had earlier cited the alleged arrest of more than a dozen personnel of INEC in Imo, who he alleged conspired with the APC to manipulate and change the results of elections already declared in favour of PDP.
Ihedioha, through Chief Mike Ahamba SAN, who leads seven other counsels, is praying the Court to declare him winner of the election or alternatively cancel the said election and conduct a fresh governorship poll in Imo state.
Declaring that the election is invalid for reason of acts of non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act in the conduct of the election, Ihedioha prayed the tribunal to also order Governor Rochas Okorocha to return the certificate of return issued to him by INEC.
