Imo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has rejected the recently conducted bye-election results for Ngor-Okpala House of Assembly seat.
The electoral umpire,INEC has declared,Mr.Blyden Amajirionwu winner.
Briefing newsman at the party office, Okigwe road, Owerri, yesterday,Sunday, February 27,the state chairman of the party, Chief Charles Ugwu, alleged that the election was marred by electoral fraud and violence.He also added that several INEC staff were abducted by thugs suspected to be working for Imo State government
He also alleged that the Governor ,Sen .Hope Uzodinma mobilized thugs within and outside the state to disrupt the process, in company of security operatives, and called on INEC to cancel the election
The PDP state chairman noted that the candidate of PDP, Emeka Nwachukwu had chances of wining if the process was free, but expressed dismay that the thugs who disrupted the election had police backing.
The party also expressed concern that with the way things are going in Imo state, the 2023 general elections is under serious threat,even as he added that the party would not fold its arms and allow the administration of Gov. Uzodinma destroy the electoral process.
He however called on members of PDP to remain calm and law abiding, while urging INEC to cancel the election.
Meanwhile, INEC Declares APC Winner of Ngor Okpala Constituency Bye Election Amid Allegations of Abductions, Irregularities
The Independent National Electoral Commission, has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC as winner of the by election held last Saturday.
The electoral umpire said Blyden Amajirionwu of APC poll 9248 to win the Ngor Okpala State Constituency Seat in the Imo State House of Assembly.
According to the electoral umpire he defeated PDP’s Jeff Emeka Nwachukwu who scored 7161 votes to come in at the second position.
However, INEC declaration is coming amid widespread allegations of abduction of opposition candidates and leaders, invasion, abduction of INEC ad hoc workers and carting away of election materials by thugs allegedly hired by the government of Imo State and writing of election results in a hotel.
Nigeria Newspoint learnt that the candidate of the opposition Labour Party, was allegedly abducted from his polling unit by masked and heavily armed policemen allegedly acting on the behest of Mr Chinasa Nwaneri Gov Hope Uzodinma’s Special Adviser on Special Duties.
The abducted candidate was said to have been released hours after his abduction following intense pressure mounted on the government officials allegedly behind the abduction.
The election was also reportedly marred by other irregularities such as abduction of INEC ad hoc staff and election materials,who were allegedly taken to a hotel along Sam Mbakwe Airport to write results and falsify those of polling units already entered into the result sheets.
Observers also allege widespread intimidation, harassment and physical assault on leaders and members of opposition parties particularly, those of PDP in nearly all the polling units in the council during the exercise which they said marked a new low in the electoral history of the state and nation.
