Imo governorship, Assembly re-run polls to hold April 25

Due to the governorship and House of Assembly polls being declared inconclusive in Imo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed April 25 for a re-run of the elections.

Briefing journalists yesterday at the INEC office in Owerri, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Gabriel Ada, said this became necessary in view of the reported cases of electoral misconduct witnessed in some wards in 23 local councils of the state, stressing that the Commission would organize the elections in the affected polling units.

Also, the REC released results of state Assembly seats, declaring that the APC won with 16 seats, while the PDP secured five out of the 27 local councils in the state.

The state's Collation Officer, Prof. Ibidabo Obe, had last Saturday declared the governorship polls inconclusive, stating that the number of the cancelled votes in the various polling booths was 144,715 votes, above the lead margin of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the governor of the state, Chief Rochas Okorocha, with 79,529, scoring total of 385,671, leading in 20 local councils above the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship standard bearer, Emeka Ihedioha, who had 306,142, controlling seven councils.

According to Ada, the re-run election would enable the Commission get the number of votes to declare the winner. He said: 'It would be unjust to use the already gathered 79,529 votes difference between the two contestants to declare the winner of the election.'

Excluding Owerri Municipal, Ideato North, Ideato South and Ahiazu Mbaise local councils from the re-run polls, Ada disclosed that the elections would hold in the six state constituencies where the elections could not hold on April 11.

The affected constituency seats are Owerri West, Oru East, Oguta, Ikeduru, Isiala Mbano and Isu local councils.

The REC commended the people of the state and the media for their cooperation so far.