IMO Guber: Ihedioha rejects result, says APC, INEC robbed him of victory

The Deputy Speaker House of Representatives and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, Hon Emeka Ihedioha has rejected the result of the just concluded gubernatorial elections.

Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governor Rochas Okorocha was on Sunday declared winner of the polls by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

At a press briefing on Sunday in Owerri, Imo state capital, Ihedioha commended the electorate for their participation in the poll.

The lawmaker, however, stated that the people’s votes did not count, alleging conspiracy between the APC and the INEC.

He said: “I have heard the verdict of the INEC on the just concluded governorship and State Assembly elections in Imo.

“First of all ,let me congratulate the great and wonderful people of Imo state who went through enormous troubles, stood in the sun and rain for many hours in order to cast your votes not once but twice. But unfortunately your votes were not allowed to stand”

Ihedioha cited the alleged arrest of over 26 Imo State INEC staff, who he said conspired with the APC to manipulate and change the results of elections already declared in favour of PDP.

“In spite also public confession of an INEC Returning Officer who was forced under gunpoint to declare false results in favour of the APC in the gubernatorial election, despite several arrests of fully armed men impersonating police officers and recorded inducement of INEC staff at Government House, Owerri on the eve of the elections as captured in photographs, audio and video recordings by local and international observers and in spite of the proven widespread incidents of swapping of PDP votes in favour of APC, all of which eroded the validity and credibility of the exercise, INEC has gone ahead to declare the APC candidate as the winner”, he stated.

Ihedioha said his camp would soon take a decision after adequate study of the election. “We will study the details of the results announced carefully and communicate our position very soon,” he assured.