Polls Result: Imo youths protest alleged plan to change election results
Youths during the protest at INEC office yesterday
Youths in Imo State on Monday protested at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Owerri over the alleged plan to change election results.
The protesting youths accused the state government of attempting to change results of the governorship election in favour of his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance.
Though the State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has been declared winner of the February 23 National Assembly election for Orlu senatorial District, he is supporting his son-in-law to take over from him.
The aggrieved youths alleged that attempts were made to re-write results of the election in Ideato in favour of the AA candidate.
Trouble started about 5.03am when the Collation Officer for Ideato local government stood up to present results of the election at the INEC Office Owerri but was interrupted by the agent of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uche Onyeagocha who alleged that the result was not authentic result.
Onyeagocha claimed that the state government and security agents had stormed the council area, drove all the party agents away and wrote a result themselves, adding that the party agents were not aware of the figures to be declared and did not sign whatever results the Collation Officer wanted to present.
He also claimed that he lodged complaint at the office of the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Imo State who he said got in touch with the Electoral Officer, EO in charge of the council area to confirm the allegation.
This development generated a heated argument that disrupted Collation as people started scampering for safety, while the INEC Office was temporarily placed under lock and key. Sensing that it could lead to the tampering of the results already collated from the local government areas, the youths stormed the INEC office to warn against anything that could alter the results as collated from council areas.
They also warned that any attempt to change the result that had placed the PDP at a vantage position would be resisted, noting that such attempt would be an invitation to chaos. Meanwhile, two electoral officers at Ohaji/Egbema local government areas were arrested and handed over to security agencies for allegedly doctoring results in favour of AA.
The four main contestants in the election are Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP, who has taken early lead in about 12 local government areas, Uche Nwosu of the AA that is favoured by Governor Okorocha, Senator Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.
