The All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 25 of the 27 State Assembly seats in the election held last Saturday in Imo. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the results in a statement signed by Imo’s Head of Voter Education, Mrs. Emmanuella Opara, which was released to journalists on Monday in Owerri. Opara noted, however, that the poll in Ahaizu Mbaise state constituency was declared inconclusive and that the result for Isu Local Government Area remained pending.
The statement listed the winning APC candidates: Eddy Obinna in Aboh Mbaise, Dominic Ezeriorah in Oru West, and Ebonine Ozioma in Njaba state constituency; Duru Iheonukara in Ideato South; Chisom Ojukwu in Nkeerre; Chike Olemgbe in Ihitte‑Uboma; Reginald Neaneri in Oru East; Ambrose Egu in Ngor‑Okpala; Kanayo Onyemachi in Owerri West; Chinemetem Agbaso in Ezinihitte; Gilbert Nwosu in Oguta; and Okechukeu Udeze in Ideato North, among others.
Reacting to the victory, the state APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Duke Cajetan, described the election as an “implicit vote of confidence” in Governor Hope Uzodimma. He said the result was “loud and overwhelming,” reflecting the people’s gratitude for the governor’s infrastructural achievements over the past three and a half years. Cajetan emphasized that the electorate voted voluntarily, not under coercion or as a reaction to the events of February 25.
In contrast, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called for the election’s cancellation, alleging extensive rigging by the APC in collusion with INEC. In a statement signed by the state PDP spokesman, Mr. Collins Opurozor, the party claimed its agents were beaten and arrested at collation centres. Opurozor asserted that, according to results transmitted from polling units in Aboh Mbaise to the iREV portal, the PDP had won the assembly seat there with over 90 percent of the votes. He alleged that, while awaiting final collation, armed thugs, security agents, and Ebubeagu militiamen led by APC supporters stormed the venue at night, attacked PDP agents, and seized INEC officials and election materials. Opurozor concluded that the “travesty” could have been avoided if the INEC Electoral Officer in Aboh Mbaise had remained incorruptible and allowed the process to conclude before dusk.
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