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Tag: Imo

  • INEC announces winner of suspended Imo House of Reps election

    INEC announces winner of suspended Imo House of Reps election

    Ugonna Ozurigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been declared winner of the House of Representatives election held in the Nwangele/ Nkwerre/ Isu/ Njaba Federal Constituency of Imo State on February 25 by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Friday.

    Announcing the result, the collation officer for the federal constituency, Prof Rosetta Okechukwu said the PDP candidate scored 19,971 votes, the Labour Party candidate got 9, 372 votes to come second while Harrison Nwadike of the All Progressives Congress polled 8, 991 votes to come third.

    The election had earlier been declared inconclusive by INEC who said elections didn’t take place in some parts of Njaba LGA.

  • 29-year-old APC candidate wins Imo House of representatives election

    29-year-old APC candidate wins Imo House of representatives election

    A 29-year-old Akarachi Amadi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency supplementary election held on Saturday in Imo.

    The Retuning Officer, Prof Boniface Okoro, while declaring the result of the election on Monday, said Amadi polled 21, 372 votes to emerge winner ahead of other candidates.

    Okoro said the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Mr Uche Ogbuagu, had 18, 296 votes, while the incumbent and candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Henry Nwawuba, garnered 7, 202 votes.

    According to him, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr Usmond Ukanacho, polled 6,681 votes, while Mr Chinonso Uba of the African Democratic Congress (ASC) had 4,100 votes.

    Okoro added that, Mr Godstime Chukwunuikem of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) got 246 votes.

    In his reaction, Amadi commended the voters and party faithful for the confidence reposed in him.

    He assured the constituents that he would not disappoint the mandate given to him to represent them.

    However, the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Uche Ogbuagu, described the supplementary poll as an “anomaly and total neglect of the electoral guidelines as stipulated by the law”.

    “I will explore all avenues and options provided by the constitution to recover the Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency mandate,” Ogbuagu noted.

    He also praised the determination of his supporters before and during the election.

  • Imo PDP primary: My victory divinely orchestrated, says Anyanwu

    Imo PDP primary: My victory divinely orchestrated, says Anyanwu

    The National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, has described his victory at the party’s Imo governorship primary election as divinely orchestrated.

    Anyanwu emerged unopposed as the PDP Governorship Candidate at Wednesday’s primary election conducted in Owerri.

    Nonetheless, he polled 802 valid votes cast during the election.

    Addressing newsmen at the end of the exercise, he reaffirmed his commitment and total submission to the will of God.

    He called on the party faithful and Imo people to “let God finish what he has started“.

    He assured party members of his readiness to take the party’s manifesto to the nooks and crannies of the state so as to ensure victory for the party.

    He thanked PDP’s national leadership and all the stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the election.

    He pledged to carry every member along during the campaign.

    Anyanwu also promised to work towards achieving sustainable development of the state, if elected governor.

    “It is with humility and the greatest sense of responsibility that I accept this divinely orchestrated nomination.

    “I will work with you and for you.

    “I thank the Almighty God for his infinite mercies and I thank the leaders of our party in Imo for working hard to set the process that has brought about my emergence in motion.

    “I do not take this honour for granted.

    “Today marks the beginning of the journey to the birth of a viral state, where security, peace and progress are a hallmark.

    “I pledge to pursue an issue-based campaign that would usher in a people-oriented government.

    “Together we shall achieve the Imo of our dream,“ Anyanwu said.

  • APC wins 25 of 27 house of assembly seats in Imo

    APC wins 25 of 27 house of assembly seats in Imo

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won 25 out of 27 state Assembly seats at last Saturday’s election conducted in Imo.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclosed this in a statement signed by the Imo Head of Voter  Education, Mrs. Emmanuella Opara, and made available to newsmen on Monday in Owerri.

    However, Opara said the poll was declared inconclusive in Ahaizu Mbaise state constituency while the result of the election in Isu Local Government Area was pending.

    The statement disclosed that APC candidates including  Eddy Obinna,  won in Aboh Mbaise, Mr Dominic Ezeriorah won in Oru West while Ebonine Ozioma won in Njaba state Constituency.

    Others were Duru Iheonukara, Ideato South; Chisom Ojukwu, Nkeerre; Chike Olemgbe, Ihitte Uboma; Reginald Neaneri, Oru East; and Ambrose Egu, Ngor Okpala.

    They also include Kanayo Onyemachi, Owerri West; Chinemetem Agbaso, Ezinihitte; Gilbert Nwosu, Oguta; and Okechukeu Udeze, Ideato North, among others

    Reacting to the party’s victory, the state’s APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Duke Cajetan said Saturday’s election was a vote of implicit confidence on Gov. Hope Uzodimma by the people.

    “The victory was loud and overwhelming. We are happy that Imo people have reciprocated the good gestures of what Uzodimma has done in the past three and half years in office.

    “They have used their votes to thank the. governor for the phenomenal infrastructural development in the state.

    “The people didn’t vote because they were coerced or because of the reflection of what happened on Feb. 25,” he added.

    Duke said their votes were an eloquent testament given to the governor as a blank cheque to choose to either run for a second term or not.

    However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called for the cancellation of the exercise, alleging massive rigging by the APC in collaboration with INEC.

    In a statement signed by the state PDP’s Spokesman, Mr Collins Opurozor, on Monday, the party said the party’s agents were beaten and arrested in collation centres.

    “From the results declared at the various polling units in Aboh Mbaise, transmitted to iREV Portal and sent in by our agents, PDP overwhelmingly won the house of assembly seat in the area with over 90 per cent of total votes cast.

    “However, as final collation was being awaited at the Collation Center, armed thugs, security agents and Ebubeagu militiamen led by APC stalwarts stormed the venue at the middle of the night, attacked our party agents and took away the INEC officials with election materials.

    “It is important to note that this travesty would have been averted if the INEC Electoral Officer in Aboh Mbaise had remained incorruptible and allowed the process to be freely concluded before dusk,” he said.

  • PDP raises alarm as rep member allegedly escapes assassination

    PDP raises alarm as rep member allegedly escapes assassination

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Imo State raised an alarm over an attempt to assassinate a member of the House of Representatives representing Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta and Oru West federal constituency, Hon. Uju Kingsley Chima.

    Chima is also the PDP candidate for the constituency in today’s elections.

    A statement by the Publicity Secretary of PDP in Imo State, Collins Opurozor, on Saturday said he had escaped assassination twice including on Friday night.

    He said, “Our party alerts Nigerians that in the last three days, our candidate has escaped by a whisker, two very brutal onslaughts targeted at his life. Just as he was wrapping up his campaigns at Umuapu in Ohaji-Egbema, three days ago, these state-sanctioned terrorists stormed the arena and unleashed mayhem on our candidate, not only sparing our party members and other innocent citizens of Imo State.

    “Around 10 pm last night, the country home of our candidate at Umuorji in Egbema was invaded by truckloads of armed men who came in vehicles that included armoured personnel carriers. They took over his residence, cordoned off the entire area, and searched desperately for our candidate to murder. When they couldn’t get him assassinated, they visited unimaginable terror on everyone and everything in sight. They abducted his family members and political supporters and tortured even aged men and women to a pulp.

    “Till this moment, the attacks are yet to abate, as an armoured tank is still stationed in front of his residence and the terrorists are still operating unhindered. This is happening in Imo state on election day!

    “Our party notes that the last plot to gruesomely eliminate Hon. Uju Kingsley Chima was hatched immediately after the efforts by the bestial and rampaging Imo APC regime to frame him over some very dangerous criminal acts hit the rocks.”

    Opurozor recalled that on December 25, 2022, the PDP had intercepted intelligence and duly alerted Nigerians to a very cruel conspiracy by agents of government to recruit some detained bandits in the state and pressurise them to implicate Chima as condition for their pardon and release.

    He said, “In the aftermath of last night’s failed assassination attempt, it is curious that the propaganda arm of the Imo State government has been activated to peddle a very shameful tale, that our candidate was arrested by EFCC, DSS and the Police. This has, therefore, nailed the APC-led regime in Imo and established their full involvement in the attack.

    “It is regrettably that governance in Imo has been reduced to a rogue enterprise. Treasury looting, bloodletting, arson, brigandage, forced disappearances and gangsterism have become key policies of the state under this unelected regime.

    “Our party calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to wade into this matter and tame the gangsterism of Senator Hope Uzodinma and his henchmen.
    Further, Imo PDP urges the Inspector-General of Police to commence investigation into the activities of the Tiger Base of the Imo State Police Command, with a view to unravelling the roles of that Base in these atrocious acts across the State.”

  • Governorship: PDP reschedules screening date for Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi aspirants

    Governorship: PDP reschedules screening date for Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi aspirants

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rescheduled the date for the screening of its aspirants for Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi governorship election from Feb. 13 to  March 1.

    The party announced the decision in a statement by its National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, in Abuja on Friday.

    According to him,  that the party National Working Committee (NWC) has scheduled the screening appeals for March 13.

    “In the same vein, sales of expression of interest and nomination forms for Kogi State only has been extended till Monday Feb. 13,” he said.

    He said that the slight adjustment in date was necessitated by the on-going electioneering campaigns for the 2023 general elections.

    Bature added that all other dates for other activities related to the primary elections in the respective states remained unchanged.

    “All our governorships aspirants, state chapters, critical stakeholders in the respective states and the general public should please note the change of dates as stated above,” he said.

  • PDP to suspend campaign in Imo over attack on candidate’s home

    PDP to suspend campaign in Imo over attack on candidate’s home

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo, says it will suspend its campaign over attack on the home of Mr. Ikenga Ugochinyere, the party’s House of Representatives candidate for Ideato North/South.

    This is contained in a statement by Mr. Ray Emeana, the party’s State Secretary in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He said the campaign would be suspended for one week,  adding that the party had also resolved to stage a protest over the attack of the candidate’s hometown in Akokwa, Imo.

    He alleged that on Jan. 14, motorcades conveying gunmen, arsonists stormed the residence of Ugochinyere where four persons were allegedly killed including his Uncle.

    Ugochinyere is also the Spokesman of Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP.

    Emeana said that for the one-week mourning,  the party’s flags would fly at half mast, while enjoining all party faithful to wear black armbands.

    He said protest against the killing would take place on Jan 18 at 10 a.m., while calling on candidates to come with 10 leaders from each Local Government Area.

  • Rochas Okorocha speaks on joining opposition party, PDP

    Rochas Okorocha speaks on joining opposition party, PDP

    Senator Rochas Okorocha, representing the lmo West senatorial District, has debunked reports of dumping the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    In a statement issued Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha said he has not joined the opposition party, PDP.

    Okorocha explained that on Friday, December 30, 2022, Kingsley Uju, representing Ohaji-Egbema/Oguta/Oru West Federal Constituency, buried his mother at Egbema and he only attended the event.

    He noted that a burial ceremony could not have become a political declaration rally, insisting he was still in the APC.

    Okorocha said: “Our attention had been drawn to a story, claiming that the former governor of lmo State has joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “We appeal that the general public disregard the story of Okorocha joining the PDP. lt is not true. The photographs attached to the false story are not evil since politics is not war. Nor a do-or-die venture.

    “Our only concern was the virus some mischief makers tried to inject into the innocent photographs, taken at Uju’s mother’s burial, without malice or those involved being conscious of which political parties all those at the burial in question, belong.”

    “Those behind this false story deliberately failed or refused to mention the venue and title of the event, where the photographs were taken. They could not also quote a portion of Okorocha’s speech that he must have made at the so-called event.”

  • Police kill three, arrest two as bandits attack INEC office in Imo

    Police kill three, arrest two as bandits attack INEC office in Imo

    Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo says security operatives have killed three bandits and arrested two others for their involvement in the attack on the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.

    The governor said this while addressing newsmen at the police headquarters in Imo while the neutralised hoodlums were paraded.

    Gunmen on Monday, attacked the INEC office in Imo, setting part of the office complex and some vehicles in the property ablaze.

    The governor said that security operatives in the state were combing the nooks and crannies of Owerri, the capital city, for the fleeing members of the gang believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds when the police engaged them at the INEC office.

    “We need to decode the motive behind the action and why INEC is the target.  What is happening in Imo State is politically contrived, and justifiably so.

    “INEC does not need this type of distraction at this point and stage of our elections, rather they should be supported by all and sundry.

    “Security agencies are ready, there will be elections in Imo by the Grace of God. The enemies of our state must not succeed,” he said.

    He assuaged the fears of Imo people assuring them of sufficient security necessary to achieve a  peaceful exercise.

    Speaking, the Commissioner of Police in Imo, Mr Mohammed Barde, said that the Police were able to neutralize three of the gunmen and arrest two while others escaped with bullet wounds.

    He assured Imo residents that the Police were on trail of the bandits adding that three AK47 riffles,  three Pump action guns, and some Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) as well as two vehicles were recovered from them.

  • INEC releases statement on Imo office attack

    INEC releases statement on Imo office attack

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that no critical election material was destroyed in the attack on its headquarters in Imo.

    INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    Okoye said the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State, Prof. Sylvia Uchenna Agu, reported that INEC State Headquarters office in Owerri was attacked by unknown gunmen, at about 3 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 12.

    “The attack affected the part of the building occupied by the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department and one official utility vehicle (a Toyota Hilux pickup van) was burnt.

    “The response of the security and emergency services (the Fire Service) curtailed further damage to the building and other assets of the commission.

    “No critical election materials were destroyed. There were also no casualties involving staff of the commission.”

    Okoye said the attack was the third on the commission’s facilities in Imo in less than two weeks,  following the earlier attacks on its Orlu LGA office on Thursday, Dec. 1 and Oru West LGA office on Sunday, Dec. 4.

    “Our Imo headquarters is located in the centre of  Owerri, the state capital, between a court and the state secretariat.

    “This is therefore, yet another systematic attack targetted at the commission’s assets across the country, more so on the day that the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) began nationwide ahead of the 2023 general elections,” Okoye said.