PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, IMO STATE : PRESS STATEMENT

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State is humbled by the overwhelming harvest of votes by the Imo electorate and the determination by all well-meaning Imolites to rally round us towards ensuring that the mandate freely given to our party is adequately protected against attempts and threats by Governor Okorocha and his agents to compromise our victory in the Saturday, March 9, 2019 governorship and state assembly elections.

We acknowledge that the results so far collated establish the popular will of the people of the State to actualize the liberation and rebuilding of our beloved state, Imo. Indeed the imminent victory is that of the good people of Imo State. To God be the glory.

From the results so far collated from 18 local government areas, we can confirm with certainty that our governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has won in 15 local governments. The local governments are as follows:

They are; Ideato North, Oru West, Obowo, Mbaitoli, Owerri West, Owerri North, Ikeduru, Owerri Municipal, Ngor Okpala, Ahiazu Mbaise, Aboh Mbaise, Ezinihitte, Oguta, and Orsu.

We are concerned with the level of desperate and primitive impunity being demonstrated by Governor Rochas Okorocha and his agents with an attempt to forcefully change the results with fake ones. He has hatched this plot, to once again, similar to how he “won” the 2015 governorship election, perpetuate himself in office for a third term, using his son in law as a stooge.

This desperate ploy will continue to be resisted vehemently by our supporters and Imolites in general. We insist that our votes must count and the winner duly declared without any compromise.

Once again, we wish to alert the security agencies, INEC, Election observers Imolites and Nigerians in general of a deliberate delay of the announcement even when collation has been concluded in about 20 LGAs. There is no reason collation, the announcement of results and declaration of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha as the winner of the governorship election should tarry till this moment.

Also for emphasis is our alarm of Governor Okorocha earlier invasion of the collation centres in the following LGAs, Ideato South, while Uche Nwosu just left Isu LGA. Attempts to change the announced results of Obowo LGA is currently being resisted by the people and sporadic gunshots are on-going

As I write this statement, there are verifiable reports that Senator Hope Uzodinma, APC governorship candidate is at the moment writing results and thumb-printing ballot papers at Oxygen Hotels and Resorts at New Owerri.

We call on security agencies to move in quickly at these locations mentioned and arrest the culprits and bring them to justice. INEC should under any circumstances accept any results from Senator Uzodinma or any unverified, duly collated results.

INEC and the security agencies must realize that Nigerians are keenly watching and monitoring every move and development in this exercise and anything short of credible results, will jeopardize the entire exercise and escalate into full-blown civil unrest.

From available records and statistics, it is not disputed that our governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha is the most acceptable, popular, experienced, with overwhelming goodwill and grassroots appeal. It is important to note for emphasis that he is the only candidate that emerged through free, fair, transparent and credible primaries.

Consequently, we call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare him the winner of the governorship election without further delay. This will douse the tension that has engulfed the entire state and also satisfy the already charged and jubilant Imo electorate and save the state from crises.

We wish to state without any fear of contradiction that we will resist any compromised outcome in this election for whatsoever reason. We have consequently in our last press statement, alerted security agencies on the unfortunate activities of Governor Okorocha and his agents.

Supporters of Peoples Democratic Party, as well as supporters of other political parties and Imolites in general, are requested to continue to be on alert, fully charged to resist any form of attack to subvert our already established victory as we expect the remaining results from the remaining local governments.

Hon. Ray Emeana
State Secretary,