Politics
Imo Gov Poll: Opposition Parties Call For Cancellation
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and other opposition political parties have collectively demanded a reassessment and annulment of the Imo State governorship election results from Saturday.
Their unified stance was expressed on Monday in Owerri, at joint media briefing through individual statements from the political parties.
The LPs candidate, Senator Athan Achonu, described the electoral process as “a complete sham and a rape of democracy.”
He emphatically called for a thorough reassessment and cancellation of the election results, highlighting gaps such as faulty voter accreditation, vote buying, and voter-intimidation.
He also expressed disappointment in the security personnel’s inability to safeguard the integrity of the ballot.
He said: “I am calling on all lovers of democracy as well as Igbo sons and the INEC to save our democracy by carrying out a holistic review of the election to satisfy the curiosity of Imo people and Nigerians at large.’’
On his part, the PDP’s candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu expressed gratitude to the residents of Imo for casting their votes despite reported intimidation.
However, he voiced concern and disappointment over the purported compromise of security agents, as evidenced in viral videos.
Sen Anyanwu highlighted that due to faulty accreditation, over-voting became prevalent, disregarding both conscience and the rule of law.
“In the full glare of security operatives, polling units were overrun with vote buying and hijacking of election materials. We therefore call for a review and cancellation of the poll,’’ he stated.
The APGA’s candidate, Tony Ejiogu, pointed out that the election was characterized by irregularities and described it as “a bad precedence to set” and emphasized the imperative for a review of both the process and its results.
He expressed concern that the extensive campaigns conducted by his party, both on and off social media, would be futile if the electoral commission didn’t reassess the election and the underlying processes leading to the declaration of a winner.
Similarly, candidate of the YPP, Dr. Kemdi Opara expressed disbelief at the announced result, particularly noting his inability to secure victory in his Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
He said, “Unbelievable that according to the announced result, he could not win his Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
“INEC must redeem its image. We need a paradigm shift because the INEC result is not a reflection of the true situation.”
A PDP chieftain, Mike Ikokwu, expressed concern about evidence of over-voting in certain areas of the state. He urged INEC to adhere to the electoral guidelines, specifically calling for a review of the results within seven days.
The Imo State Chairman, LP, Callistus Ihejiagwa, raised issues about results being uploaded for locations where elections did not take place, contributing to unchecked over-voting. He insisted that a thorough review of the poll was necessary.
He said, “A total of 500,000 votes were cast for APC alone as announced by INEC. Yet, only about 300,000 persons were duly accredited as evidenced in the server. This charade has to be reviewed.”
APC members are reeling from the tragic death of Alaba Abe, also known as Excel, a coordinator of the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC) in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.
According to a statement by LACO-FSIC’s State Information Director Kayode Fasua, Excel was fatally shot in front of his residence in Supare town on Saturday, April 27th.
He characterized the deceased campaign coordinator as “resourceful,” further noting that the news has stunned members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the council.
The statement reads “The Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC) on Sunday decried the gruesome murder of one of its ward coordinators in Akoko Southwest Local Government area of Ondo State, Mr. Alaba Abe Excel, with an appeal to the police authorities to protect its members against implacable opponents.
Fasua quoted Mr. Nurudeen Kazeem, the LACO-FSIC Director of Information and Online News for Akoko Southwest, expressing that the incident was a rude shock to APC members in the local council, who were dedicated to the governor’s election in November this year.
In response, Hon. David Ajobiewe, the Director-General for the LACO-FSIC in Akoko Southwest Local Government, also echoed the sentiment, describing the incident as a rude shock.
He said “Excel had been a resourceful coordinator for the Aiyedatiwa campaign organisation in Ward 10 of Supare and was never known to be violent and never had any history of local or domestic dispute.
“We urge the police authorities to step up investigations into his gruesome murder and bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.”
Meanwhile, the Convener of the LACO-FSIC, Dr. Oladipupo Okeyomi, also known as Carry Go, along with Co-convener Prince Biyi Poroye, conveyed heartfelt condolences from Governor Aiyedatiwa, the campaign group, and the APC leadership in Ondo State on the tragic loss.
Similarly, the State Director-General of the LACO-FSIC, who also serves as the state Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, denounced the incident as terrible and unnecessary, expressing sympathy for the family, friends, and associates of the late Excel.
The coming days promise a lot of intrigues in the Ondo State political circle with the former Governor, Segun Mimiko, set to play a big part.
Biztellers reports that delegates of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) on Wednesday, in Akure, chose Abass Mimiko as its candidate for the November 16 governorship election in the state.
It was gathered that Abass is Segun’s younger sibling.
He was reported to have been chosen through affirmation in the party’s primary election at its Secretariat.
On emergence, Mimiko assured that if elected governor of the state, his priorities would be education, health, economy, and security.
On if his older sibling would be supporting his ambition, with both of them being in different political parties, Abbas revealed that the former governor would be rooting for him to become Ondo’s next governor.
According to him, “My brother is happy that I am coming out because he knows I would build on his achievements.”
In a show of solidarity, the 37 chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed support for the party’s national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, despite reports of his suspension by his ward in Dawakin-Tofa local government area of Kano state.
The chairmen representing 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) conveyed their vote of confidence during a visit to Ganduje at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.
Acting chairman of the APC state Chairmen Forum and Lagos State chairman of the party, Cornelius Ojelabi, stated that those behind the purported suspension were not recognized by the party.
He said, “We are here to let you know that we are solidly behind you. The purported suspension is not from members of the party but coming from people that want to derail the party.
“We’re here to show our solidarity and sincere commitment to appreciate what members of the National Working Committee have been doing in standing by you by giving you a total support.
“We feel it’s important that the act of that solidarity should not be limited to members of the NWC alone.”
In his retort, Ganduje pointed fingers at Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, accusing him of orchestrating the purported suspension by impostors.
He derided the move as nothing more than a theatrical spectacle, likening it to scenes one might expect on Africa Magic’s Nollywood channel.
He said, “We were so astonished when we heard the news but we were not surprised when we discovered that the great threat that APC overwhelmingly poses to other parties is real and Kano State is not an exception.
“The government in Kano State is behind this drama. Even the drama is one kind of drama that is called Africa Magic. This is Africa Magic and it is not leading democracy anywhere.
“It is a negative innovation where members who belong to a different political party, not even our members, let alone being elected executive members of either the ward or to the highest level at the state.
He added “Our party cannot be distracted, we assure you. Our attention cannot be diverted. We are focused. We know where we are heading to. We know our objectives and we know to achieve our objectives.”
At the same time, the Ganduje-led National Working Committee of the APC has officially received the report of the party’s Ondo Governorship Committee, headed by Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
In a formal handover ceremony, Ganduje commended Governor Ododo for his exemplary leadership and acknowledged the committee’s diligent work.
He expressed pride in the governor’s successful execution of the party’s first national assignment under his stewardship.
Ganduje said “This is your first assignment and we are happy that you did well. I was in our Situation Room watching you live while you were declaring the results and I am proud of the way you handled it.”
In his earlier remarks, Governor Ododo expressed gratitude to the APC national leadership for entrusting him and his committee members with such a crucial national assignment.
He highlighted that the committee’s report meticulously documented all events surrounding the primary election, offering comprehensive recommendations to address the aftermath.
Governor Ododo emphasized the importance of these recommendations in fostering party unity and preparing the APC for success in the upcoming November governorship election in Ondo State.
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