Tunji Adedeji
A group of respected Okigwe Religious Leaders
has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conclude the election process for Imo North Senatorial District and declare the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP Senatorial candidate , Hon .Patrick Ndubueze winner, saying that they have come to protest against continuous delayed of the election result.
The Secretary of Okigwe Religious Leaders, Rev. Divine Obinani, who accused INEC of making moves to announce results that would not reflect the actual votes cast during the polls made the call yesterday when the group staged a peaceful protest at the INEC office Owerri ,where they demanded the immediate release of the results of elections held in the area.
Obinani said: “I call on the INEC Chairman not to drag the people of Okigwe into crisis because of their inability to announce elections result . This manoeuvre is not good for the nation’s democracy.”
“The results available to the PDP showed that its senatorial candidate, Hon. Patrick Ndubueze, was leading with over 12 , 000 votes . we want Ndubueze declared the winner because massively he won but INEC is still holding our mandate .
Also speaking during the protest ,Comrade .Odike Misheal , the Prayer Coordinator of the group called on INEC to immediately announce Ndubueze the winner of the Imo North Senatorial District election.
He enjoined INEC to do the needful. He urged the electoral umpire to do what is right regarding the National Assembly election in Okigwe North by declaring the results.
Odike noted that the people of Okigwe North Senatorial District voted overwhelmingly for Ndubueze ,the PDP Senatorial Candidate in mo North Senatorial district.
He said ,”we want INEC to respect democracy and declare the result. “
