By onyekachi eze
Following the re-run of the April 11, 2015 governorship and House of Assembly elections as declared by the Returning Officer, Prof Ibidapo Obe, in Imo State, the Commissioner for Housing, Imo State and the campaign Director General of Imo Rescue Mission Campaign Organization, Hon Barr. Iheukwumere Alaribe has called on the INEC chairman for an immediate redeployment of the Imo Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Gabriel Ada over alleged gross conspiracy with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the 25th re-run election.
Addressing newsmen at Rochas Campaign office Okigwe road Owerri, yesterday, Hon Alaribe expressed the party’s readiness in taking full part in the stipulated Imo governorship re-run election according to INEC regulation. He Stressed that even if the election is done twenty times, APC will still emerge victorious as no amount of rigging by the opposition will change the mind and votes of the masses who are strongly behind the candidature of Rochas Okorocha.
He disclosed that since the April 11, elections, APC has officially written to Imo REC inorder to ascertain the exact number of PVCs distributed in the affected polling units for the election but all to no avail, instead the REC decided to falsify figures against APC so as to favour the PDP. Hon Alaribe further revealed that the Resident Electoral Commissioner instead of working in tandem with his Electoral Officers (EOs) went contrary to mark out areas where there was free and fair exercise with reference to Ezinihitte, Mbaitoli and Oru East LGAs where the E.Os never made remarks of violence or to have fresh elections just because APC was leading in the areas. Also, he remarked that places like Aboh, Ezinihite, Okpofe ward, in Ahiazu Mbaise where they laid complains of ballot box snatching and doctoring of result sheets were neglected by the REC just because it is in favour of PDP.
Speaking further, the campaign Director, Alaribe alleged that the REC intentionally issued high figures at the detriment of APC to favour PDP so that there will be a re-run election.
Continuing he revealed that due to the interest the REC Dr Gabriel has for PDP, he chose to proceed with the distribution of the permanent Voters card (PVCs) to the affected polling units where the supplementary will take place having known fully well that according to INEC guidelines that no PVC is expected to be distributed until after elections.
“The REC is our major opponent, our first challenger and he is not competent for the position he is occupying. We beg on the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega to look into the records of elections in Imo and keep the REC aside from Presiding over the Re-run election. The REC is an embarrassment to democracy, he has no conscience and no character. We have won the election out rightly and the APC candidate Rochas Okorocha should be declared winner for fairness, justice and democracy. Imo REC has a political interest and he is a full fledged member of PDP who is only ready to work against us” Hon Alaribe maintained. Meanwhile last may not have been heard about the outcome of 11th April, 2015 elections in Imo state as a strong extraction of All Progressive Congress (APC) family known as APC youth vanguard has threatened to disrupt happenings in the state if Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fails to declare the numbers of Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) distributed in the 250 polling booths expected to hold re-run election on 25th of this month.
This reaction sprang up as a result of the inability of INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Imo State, Dr Gabriel Ada to mention exactly the figures of eligible voters as well as numbers of PVCs distributed in the affected areas while addressing newsmen on Wednesday.
Addressing newsmen in Owerri yesterday, the National Coordinator of APC Youth Vanguard, Prince Chibuike Egbeama popularly called Mr APC posited that his team has been suspecting foul play on the part of INEC officials queering why the REC refused to announce the numbers of PVCs distributed to the affected areas where re-run elections will take place on 25th April, 2015.
Prince Egbeama maintained that youths can no longer condone election rigging adding that total PVCs distributed to the affected areas will enable every right person to quantify who clinches the number one seat of Imo State as well as assisting INEC in election frauds and manipulation of figures during the re-run election.
“We cannot stop protesting till INEC does the right thing. Nobody can short- change APC victory in this election. We learnt that INEC has planned to distribute more PVCs. Is it for whose benefit? INEC should use the available result to declare Rochas Okorocha winner”, the vanguard coordinator insisted.
He further enjoined Imolites to disregard information alleging that Northern APC Chieftains are ganging up against Okorocha’s re-election adding that APC is one peaceful and unity family that has no division or faction like other political parties.
