APC, PDP Youths Stage Protests In Owerri, Want INEC To Declare Their Candidates As Winner

SCORES of youths yesterday disrupted economic, political and social
activities in Owerri, the capital city of Imo State, demanding the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to release the
governorship polls held last Saturday in the state, in favour of the
incumbent and the All-Progressives Congress (APC), standard bearer,
Chief Rochas Okorocha, winner.

The protesters had blocked the popular Okigwe Road Roundabout, near
Government House, Owerri, causing all vehicles to be at a standstill.
They chanted songs depicting their grievance; carrying placards
showing inscriptions: "INEC release the results. Okorocha won the
election".

The songs were in Igbo: "Iwe na ewe anyi." In English: "We are
annoyed." They caused traffic gridlock along the roads.

Okorocha later addressed them in front of Government House, urging
them to remain calm. He noted that he knew that he won the elections,
stressing that many of the notable bigwigs such as Chief Emmanuel
Iwuanyanwu, Dr. Kema Chikwe, Senator Hope Uzodinma, lost in their
homes.

On Monday, another set of youths under the aegis, coalition of Imo
Youths, had protested along Okigwe Road, to the Peoples' Democratic
Party (PDP), office along Okigwe Road, protesting that their
principal, Chief Emeka Ihedioha be declared the winner.

They argued that Imo people had chosen the Deputy Speaker of the House
of Representatives as their governor, urging INEC to declare him
winner and cancel the decision declaring Imo governorship polls
inconclusive.

--The Guardian