IMO Election Outcome: LP Expresses Discontent with Results

The Imo chapter of the Labour Party has distanced itself from the outcome of the Governorship Election held on November 11, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Mr. Callistus Ihejiagwa, the Party’s Chairman, expressed these sentiments during an interaction with journalists in Owerri on Sunday.

Ihejiagwa criticized the election results, citing incidents of “attacks, intimidation, and strong opposition against the will of the masses,” deeming the announced outcome as unacceptable. Referring to electoral guidelines, specifically paragraph 48, sub-paragraphs A and B, he claimed that he had petitioned INEC prior to the final collation regarding voter accreditation irregularities. However, his plea was allegedly disregarded, and the collation process went ahead.

According to Ihejiagwa, when he insisted on halting the collation for the petition to be heard, he was accused of disrupting the process and physically assaulted by thugs affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the presence of security agents. He asserted that the electoral guidelines were violated, denying his party the right to a fair hearing despite multiple calls for the petition to be addressed.

The LP Chairman, detailing the events, claimed that the Returning Officer, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, refused to entertain the petition. Allegedly, thugs from the APC assaulted him, leading to his expulsion from the collation hall, robbery of personal belongings, and subsequent detention by the police. He expressed disappointment with the lack of protection from security personnel at the collation center and INEC’s failure to address his petition.

Ihejiagwa emphasized that the LP possesses evidence of the assault, which occurred on live television during collation, and vowed to pursue justice for the matters raised. He denounced the purported election result and announced the LP’s intention to challenge it in court, presenting evidence to support their claim that Sen. Athan Achonu, their candidate, won the election. The LP Chairman concluded by stating their commitment to seeking judicial redress and reclaiming the mandate in court.