Okorocha: urges INEC declare Imo state result

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently collate the results in the remaining wards in the state and declare the winner.

The governor made the call on Tuesday in Owerri while giving an insight into what transpired in the various polling units in the state.

Prof. Ibidapo Obe, the Returning Officer for the state INEC, had on Sunday declared the Imo governorship election inconclusive due to the cancellation of results of polls in some electoral wards spreading across 23 local government areas of the state.

Okorocha was leading his PDP opponent, Emeka Ihedioha with about 79,000 votes.

Okorocha accused some INEC staff and the Police of complacency with the intention to commit electoral fraud to the disadvantage of the APC.

He commended the people of Imo for their show of support and solidarity before, during and after the elections.

He enjoined them to remain calm and peaceful, assuring them that their wish would ultimately prevail as they demonstrated at the polls.

“Imo is our state to protect, irrespective of whatever political party that is in power.

“It is our collective responsibility to defend democracy which is government of the people, by the people and for the people.”

The governor expressed regret that supplementary governorship election had become the in thing in the state since 2011 as he was elected via a supplementary governorship election and expressed optimism that he would win.

According to him, the declaration of the governorship election in the state as inconclusive was untenable.

He claimed he had met the constitutional requirements to be declared winner of the polls.

Okorocha commiserated with individuals whom he said suffered one form of humiliation or the other during the polls and assured them that the state government would take steps to remedy their plight