Some angry youths on Wednesday April 19, 2023 stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Owerri, Imo State.
The Informant247 learned that the demonstrators were from the Isu Local Government Area of Imo State.
They angrily occupied the state’s headquarters of the electoral commission to register their dissatisfaction at the results declared by the INEC for the Isu State constituency during the April 15, 2023 supplementary elections.
They said the results of the supplementary election were not different from the results given before the supplementary poll was carried out.
They described as faulty the announcement of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP candidate, Modestus Osakwe as winner.
Fidelis Ibewuike who led the demonstration said: “Our election was declared inconclusive because the number of votes from polling units where the election did not hold was higher than the number of the leading party the PDP: Here are the facts: APC = 4,907 votes, PDP = 5,390 votes. These were the figures at the time election was declared inconclusive.
“INEC must review the fraudulent declaration of the results which returned the PDP’s candidate with a view of annulling it. The figures used in the declaration were not the figures from the supplementary election held Saturday, April 15th, 2023. Imo REC must instruct for the final collation of the results from the supplementary election and announce the winner from it without any further delay.
“From the figures gotten from our situation room in the collation exercise from our field agents, our candidate, Barr. Kingsley Ozurumba of the APC polled the highest of lawful votes and must be declared the winner of the exercise.
“Why was the APC and the PDP allocated the same number of votes as before the supplementary election as the newly declared results after the supplementary election?”
Tinubu calls for investigation of Adamawa gov’ship election
The president elect Senator Bola Tinubu has called for investigation of the Adamawa supplementary governorship election.
As earlier reported by The Informant247, the incumbent Governor of the State, Ahmadu Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party PDP has been declared the winner of the state governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He defeated thirteen other guber candidates in the state to retain his position as Governor of the state.
The INEC revealed that the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 398,788 votes while the sitting Governor of the state had 430,861 votes.
Reacting on Wednesday April 19, 2023, the president elect, Tinubu called on the police to investigate “all that transpired” in the state election.
The statement reads: “The supplementary polls have now brought the 2023 elections to a final, fitting conclusion. I observed, with satisfaction, the largely peaceful atmosphere that pervaded the supplementary election on Saturday. It was a further testimony that our citizens have accepted democratic norms and have unalloyed faith in the electoral process.”
“However, I note the matter of Adamawa Supplementary Governorship Election and I urge police authorities to fully investigate all that transpired in the election given the attendant controversy. In every democratic contest, there has to be one winner. I call on those aggrieved to pursue legitimate means of addressing their grievances.”
The Informant247 recalls that the REC, on Sunday April 16, 2023 declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Adamawa State, Senator Aishatu Ahmed Binani the winner of the election even while collation of results was still ongoing.
The headquarters of the electoral commission has taken a quick step on the critical electoral issue as it suspended the REC and postponed the announcement of the results indefinitely.
The INEC on Tuesday April 18, 2023 held a meeting to discuss issues concerning the Adamawa governorship election.
It called on the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman to immediately investigate and possibly prosecute the Resident Electoral Commissioner REC for Adamawa State, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari.
The INEC after its Tuesday’s meeting also alerted the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha to bring the unacceptable act of the REC to the awareness of concerned appointing authority for due action.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba also removed the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde.