Following the controversial declaration of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, as Imo West senator-elect, the State Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday said that the commission was looking into the petitions before it. Okorocha The Imo INEC Voters Education Officer, Adedoyin Sunday confirmed this in Owerri while addressing hundreds of women from Imo West senatorial district, who protested to INEC office along Port Harcourt Road. I will be senator for all.
Uba Sani In the protest monitored by Vanguard, Adedoyin assured the women that the commission would be neutral in looking into their matters. He disclosed that the women were not the only ones that have brought petitions to INEC. Speaking on the matter, Adedoyin, said: “INEC will continue to maintain it’s neutrality. We have received a lot of petitions and we are looking into it. INEC will soon make a pronouncement on the matter and you will be communicated.
What I assure you is that INEC has remained neutral and will continue to be.” Also, the women protested to the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, to plead with the Army commander to beg his boys not to interfere in the electoral process. At the Army Barrack, H. I. Emereuwa who addressed the women pleaded with them to channel their petitions to INEC as a body that has to do with the election. Emereuwa said: “We have seen your petition, but it is good that when you want to do this kind of thing, you inform us. You can go to INEC office and protest.
The Army is neutral, we are not politicians.” However, in the petition handed over to Vanguard by the protesting women, the Zonal Woman leader, Mrs. Ihejiagwa Oby said that they decided to go on protest because the original results of the Imo West election were not declared, adding that the way the returning officer announced the results under duress pained them. She said: “It is not fair that the Saturday 23rd February, 2019 National Assembly and Presidential elections were marred with irregularities in the state especially in Imo West Senatorial district. “Sir, it is also important to note that the women of Orlu zone are protesting against the brutal assassination of our two sons killed at Ejemekwuru during the governor’s campaign rally in Oguta LGA and properties of people were destroyed.
Okorocha, Ohakim have been 12yrs of trauma for Imo – Araraume “The Resident Electoral Commissioner, it is obvious that lives are at risk if a Chief Security Officer of the state could use the military as well as the police to perpetrate electoral mayhem against the citizenry. “We want to use this opportunity to tell you that there was use of power to intimidate collation agents in Mmahu in Ohaji/Egbema LGA to scuttle all the electoral materials and forced them to rewrite results for him.”
