The Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressive Congress (APC)’s government in Imo State of manipulating the outcome of the Imo North Senatorial Re-run Election that took place on Saturday July 23, 2016, and called on INEC to declare its candidate in the election, Mr. Athan Achonu , the winner.
The party in a statement on Thursday, July 28, 2016 by its Spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye said the Result announced by the INEC Returning Officer in the State before declaring it inconclusive, was false and unfounded.
“We had earlier warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo state to remain an unbiased umpire and maintain neutrality in all elections in Nigeria but we were taken aback by the result announced by the Returning Officer in Imo State which was completely false compared to the polling-unit by polling-unit collation done by our party agents and certified by INEC officials during the Re-run election,” Prince Adeyeye said.
The party has written the INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu and presented Certified True Copies of the undeclared unit-by-unit results as collated during the polls insisting that what INEC declared was untrue and does not reflect the true position of the outcome of the Election.
“We wish to call on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to immediately address the injustice done to our Party and our Candidate, Mr. Athan Achonu and declare him Winner of the Imo North Re-run Election. With available results as certified by INEC Collation Centers at various levels in Imo North Senatorial District, PDP’s Candidate is leading the APC with over 6,000 votes and Won 5 out of the 6 Local Government Areas in the Senatorial District “.
For the avoidance of doubt, attached is the Certified True Copy of the overall Result as collated at the Zonal Collation Center.
The Party believes that since the bye-election is holding today, Thursday, 28 July, 2016 in Imo State and collation still ongoing, INEC has no excuse but to declare the authentic result as collated and certified.
Concluding, Prince Adeyeye urged its members, teaming supporters and the electorates of the PDP in Imo North Senatorial District and Imo State in general to remain calm and law abiding while the Party awaits final decision from INEC.
It would be recalled that the INEC had declared the result of Imo North Senatorial District rerun election inconclusive.
The election was conducted on Saturday, July 23. Also declared inconclusive were the results of Oru East and Isiala Mbano State Constituencies following reported cases of shooting which characterised the exercise in some communities in the two affected areas.
The shootings were reported at Okata and Amiri in Oru East, while skirmishes and snatching of ballot boxes characterised the election in some communities in Isiala Mbano area.
Prof. Arinze Agbogu, the INEC Returning Officer for Imo North Senatorial District who announced the result on Sunday, however said that Ben Uwajumogu, APC’s senatorial candidate, polled 48,921.
Mr. Agbogu also announced that PDP’s Athan Achonu scored 40,142 votes to emerge second in the already declared result.
He explained that results of several polling units in Isiala Mbano area were characterised by irregularities leading to cancelation of the results.
Mr. Agbogu explained that the exercise was cancelled in 15 polling units with a total of 13,000 registered voters.
