Leaders in Okigwe senatorial zone in Imo State have rejected the results of the February 23, 2019 senatorial election, as well as the March 9, 2019 senatorial re-run election in the zone, urging cancellation of the exercise.
They accused the Independent National Electoral Commission and unnamed persons of “underhand activities” while the election lasted.
Spokesman of the Okigwe leaders, Mr. Athan Anyanwu, accused INEC of maintaining “three conflicting results” involving candidates of the All Progressives Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance, and Action Alliance.
“With this confusion, the people of the zone have lost confidence in whatever result INEC has,” they said.
The leaders further condemned what they called “war-front scenario” “which the zone was reduced to during the election,” alleging that “INEC’s silence” on some of the disturbing security reports in the zone during the elections was disturbing.
“Armed thugs invaded and upturned polling booths in almost all the wards in the zone. They intimidated voters and snatched ballot boxes,” the spokesman said.
The leaders, who were about 80 in number, called on INEC to “redeem its image by conducting a fresh senatorial election in the zone.”
When contacted on the phone, the Public Relations Officer of INEC in Imo State, Mrs. Emmanuella Ben-Opara, said the allegation were untrue.
“INEC did a very good job in the senatorial zone. It is just that people are always over ambitious,” she said.
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