As the winner of the Okigwe Senate bye- election is yet to emerge, the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA in Imo State, says it has concluded plans to drag the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to Court with the aim of declaring its candidate, Attorney Charles Onyirimba, winner of the election.
The party wants Frank Ibezim, who is claiming to be candidate of the APC, and the PDP candidate, Emmanuel Okewulou, who participated in the election, disqualified.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting of party’s executives in Okigwe senatorial zone,held at the party’ state secretariat, along Egbu Road, Owerri, Saturday, State Chairman of the party, Hon John Iwuala, noted that the Federal High Court, Abuja had barred Hon. Frank Ibezim of the All Progressive Congress, APC from contesting any election or to hold public office for submitting fake documents, just as an Appeal Court had sacked the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Imo State for conducting fraudulent congresses, thus rendering invalid the candidacy of its flag-bearer in Okigwe senate bye election, Hon. Emmanuel Okewulonu.
While refuting the rumor that APGA members did not fully participate in the election, Iwuala disclosed that APGA participated effectively in the election, but was rigged out by the opposing parties, regretting that over 7,000 votes cast for APGA were doctored, accusing INEC of conniving with the opposition to rig the election.
He said “INEC should tell Okigwe people that APC and PDP have no valid candidates in the election. APGA scored the highest number of votes cast. For this, we are going to Court to ask it to compel INEC to declare APGA candidate, Attorney Charles Onyirimba, winner of the election. APGA has taken a resolute position and would not leave any stone un-turned to clinch victory.
“The party is calling on Imo people to reject evil and resist everything that could rape democracy” Iwuala said.
He reiterated that placing APGA, 3rd in an election it won clearly, demonstrated that the election was fraught with open fraud and irregularities, encouraging members and supporters to keep faith as victory is theirs.
“APGA suspected that INEC would rely on Supreme Court judgement to declare candidate who won the election. If INEC declared APC winner of the election, who would represent APC in the Senate. This is sheer injustice and a slap to democratic setting”, Iwuala concluded.
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