Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
FORMER Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Emeka Ihedioha, looked good last night to win Imo State contest.
This is coming as Action Alliance, Uche Nwosu has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to declare Ihedioha winner until the constitutionally outlined provisions are met.
Ihedioha polled a total of 273, 404 votes to come first aftyer results from all local government areas were collated. Nwosu of the AA came second with 190, 364 votes. The All Progressives Congress (APC) candiade, Senator Hope Uzodimma, placed third, while Senator Ifeanyi Ararauma of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) came fourth.
At the time of going to press last night, the electoral officers were still completing the process of result collation before declaring the winner.
Meanwhile, Nwosu, who addressed journalists, noted that the leading candidate, Ihedioha averred that for one to be declared a winner of the election, he must have met the mandatory 25 percent spread in the votes, at least, in two-third of the number of Local Government Areas where the election was held.
According to Nwosu, “the constitution is clear that for a candidate to be declared a winner, he must have the mandatory 25 percent spread in at least two-thirds of the number of local government areas in the state. In this instance, the candidate of PDP did not meet the requirement as he scored the mandatory spread in only 12 whereas it should be 18.
He also alleged widespread irregularity in the three local government areas of Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu and Ezinihitte.
Nwosu wondered why the three local government areas could return such huge numbers in an election that was marred by voter apathy.
He said: “This result is totally unacceptable and I’m calling on INEC to declare the election inconclusive and arrange a fresh election within seven days as stipulated by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He also frowned at the conduct of INEC officials, who he alleged colluded with the PDP candidate to inflate the figures in the three contentious local government areas.
