State has declared the results of Saturday's gubernatorial and House
of Assembly elections in the state inconclusive, the All Progressive
Grand Alliance, APGA, has called for the total cancellation of the
results.
The party alleged widespread irregularities, intimidation of voters,
and violence on its supporters as some reasons for the call.
Speaking in a chat with journalists at his residence in Owerri, the
party's gubernatorial candidate, Emmanuel Ihenacho, said that the
"entire excise was an absolute sham".
"The election was characterised by widespread irregularities, ballot
box snatching, card readers and result sheets were also carted away,"
he said.
"We are calling for a total cancellation because there was no election
in Imo State."
He said the party's supporters were intimidated by men in police and
military uniforms.
He said police and soldiers prevented the party's agents from gaining
access to the collation centres and when they complained they were
beaten and their phone seized.
"Some of our agent were abducted from polling units and as I speak to
you now, we don't know the whereabouts of some of them."
He accused the state's ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of conveying bands of thugs in
minibuses to snatch ballot boxes and perpetrate mayhem at polling
units. He said APGA was particularly targeted in these attacks.
"INEC should review these reports and take a decision to cancel the
election. If we sustain this election we will be doing Nigeria's image
and reputation a lot of harm," he said.
Mr Ihenacho said even if INEC announced him as winner of the election
he would still insist that the result be cancelled and election
rescheduled.
"Even if the results were announced in my favour, my comments will
still hold and I will say go ahead and cancel the election."
--Premium Times
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