A former Governorship aspirant in Imo State, Hon. Uche Onyeaguocha has commended the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mammud Yakubu for accepting not to issue Certificate of Return to the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Orlu senatorial zone in the February 23, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Onyeaguocha in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, McDonald Enwere alleged that in the last senatorial election in Orlu zone, Governor Okorocha held the Returning Officer, Prof. Innocent Ibeabuchi hostage, forcing the man to declare him winner of the senatorial election, which he said the Returning officer did under duress.
He said,” This is not only reprehensible but it is the height of electoral fraud. It is quite unfortunate that Governor Okorocha is finding it difficult to win a senatorial election in his Orlu zone. That is why he went to the most bizarre extent of kidnapping the Returning officer, held him hostage and forced the man to declare him winner which he did under duress.
“To us, Governor Okorocha’s do-or-die action is not only a threat to our democracy but portends a great danger to the nation’s electoral system. People like Governor Okorocha who have no respect for democratic principles and rule of Law should be made to face the wrath of the law. Such act of grave impunity and thuggery should not be condoned in our electoral system. There should be decency and decorum in the system.
“We therefore commend the INEC for this bold step of protecting the dignity of our democracy. We commend the INEC Chairman for standing on the side of the truth by ensuring that the excesses of some political elements and desperados like Governor Okorocha are not tolerated”.
Hon. Onyeaguocha however called on INEC to do a painstaking scrutiny of the card readers to ensure that the real winner of that senatorial election was declared.
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