The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Hope Uzodimma, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the governorship election in Imo State. Uzodimma secured a second term in office by winning in all 27 local government areas of the state, garnering a total of 540,008 votes.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) have cried foul, calling for the total cancellation of the poll. Both parties allege that security agents colluded with INEC staff to allow APC members to rig the election. The PDP candidate, Samuel Anyanwu, and the LP candidate, Athan Aconu, demand the nullification of the election, accusing the security agents of protecting APC members as they rewrote results.
The LP vowed to seek redress at the election tribunal, alleging irregularities, vote-buying, and assaults on LP agents. The PDP also condemns the assault and detention of its chairman in the state and calls for the immediate arrest of those responsible.
Governor Uzodimma, basking in the euphoria of his victory, urged his opponents to join him in moving the state forward. The LP chairman, Callistus Ihejiagwa, questioned the victory’s legitimacy, stating that from the actual results, the LP candidate won the election. Both the PDP and LP plan to challenge the election results in court.
In addition, a female youth corps member serving as an ad hoc worker is reported missing, and her results are yet to be recovered. The LP agent, Tony Nwulu, claims that the security agents provided security to INEC staff and APC members to subvert the people’s will.
Kogi State Election: APC’s Usman Ododo Declared Winner
In Kogi State, Usman Ododo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, has been declared the winner of the November 11 election. Ododo won with 446,237 votes, defeating his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who garnered 259,052 votes. The PDP candidate, Dino Melaye, pulled 46,362 votes.
The SDP and PDP in Kogi State call for the cancellation of the results in Okene, Okehi, Ogori Magongo, Adavi, Ajaokuta, and some parts of Lokoja, alleging corrupt practices, vote-buying, and over-voting. The PDP standard bearer, Dino Melaye, alleges that result sheets were manipulated before the accreditation of voters, and he calls on INEC to cancel the off-cycle election.
The APC urges INEC to disregard calls for the cancellation and protect the integrity of the votes in the state, stating that Ododo is already coasting to victory.
Bayelsa State: PDP Supporters Protest Election Results
In Bayelsa State, hundreds of PDP supporters staged a protest in Yenagoa, demanding that results from Nembe-Bassambiri should not be brought to the collation centre. The results indicate a lead for the PDP candidate, Governor Douye Diri. The PDP alleges that the election did not take place in Nembe-Bassambiri and that the results were concocted in APC strongholds. The APC agent defends the party’s victory, stating that Sylva’s agents were chased away.
Some INEC officials are reported to be held hostage in Brass Local Government Area, and INEC calls on the police and other security operatives to investigate the situation and facilitate the release of the officials.
Amidst the protests and allegations, the electoral landscape in these states remains tense, and further developments are anticipated.