IMO NORTH SENATORIAL ELECTION CONTROVERSY: DECLARE PDP CANDIDATE WINNER — YOUTH GROUP TELLS INEC

Reporter : CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

Youths from Imo North Senatorial District of Imo State Monday stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Owerri to protest against the non representation of the area in the upper legislative chambers of the National Assembly.

The youths, who numbered over one hundred, carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Certificate forgery is criminal,” “APC never had a candidate” and “Okigwe wants a Senator.”

Addressing journalists during the peaceful protest in Owerri, the National President Okigwe Zonal Progressives Youths Alliance, Mr. Samuel Okpara, lamented that the senatorial district had continued to lose out in the scheme of things due to non representation in the red chambers.

He noted that the APC had no candidate for the December 5, 2020 Senatorial bye-election in the zone due to conflicting court orders that disqualified the two persons laying claims to the party’s ticket.

Mr. Okpara said since INEC did not publish any candidate for the APC the Commission should declare the PDP Candidate, Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu, winner having scored the majority number of lawful votes cast.

The Protocol Officer INEC Imo State, Mr. Micheal Okolie, who addressed the youths thanked them for their peaceful disposition and promised to transmit the protest letter to the management for action.

INEC had declared APC winner of the bye-election without a particular candidate as legal tussle between the two candidates, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and Mr. Frank Ibezim, laying claim to the APC ticket had made INEC to withhold certificate of return.

The Imo North Senatorial District seat became vacant following the death of Chief Benjamin Uwajumogu in December 2019.