OKIGWE YOUTH GROUP REJECTS DEC 5 IMO NORTH SENATORIAL BYE-ELECTION RESULT

Reporter : CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

Reactions have continued to trail the December 5 Imo North Senatorial District election won by the All Progressives Progress in Imo State.

Not satisfied with the outcome, a group under the aegis of Coalition of Okigwe Youths on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Owerri to demand the declaration of the PDP candidate as winner of the contest.

The youth, carrying placards with various inscriptions including ”Okigwe Zone Can’t be Waiting for too Long,” “We Call on People of Goodwill to Denounce Injustice” and “APC Had No Candidate on the Election Day,” called on INEC to abide by court rulings, which disqualified the two candidates laying claims to APC ticket in the election.

Addressing journalists at the entrance gate of INEC headquarters in Owerri, Coordinator of the group, Comrade Chiedozie Ibekwe, said as stakeholders in deepening democracy in the zone, the youths could not fold their hands and watch those they referred as desperate politicians to hold the district to ransom.

Comrade Ibekwe insisted that declaration of PDP as winner was the only way to avert the crisis looming in Imo North Senatorial district.

The Public Affairs Officer of INEC in Imo State, Mrs. Emmanuella Opara, commended the youth for their peaceful disposition but called on aggrieved parties to seek redress at the election petition tribunal.

The youths were later dispersed by a combined team of security personnel, who were deployed to avoid breakdown of law and order.