as PDP calls for rescue of returning officer

By Chinonso Alozie
Owerri – The Imo West Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Jones Onyereri, has called on International community to come and rescue the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, returning officer, I. I Ibeawuchi, for Imo West election.

Imo state

Onyereri raised this alarm Monday morning at the PDP, state Secretariat along Okigwe road in Owerri.

Vanguard gathered that tension is rising in Imo west where allegations and counter allegations of voting buying, ballot paper snatching and threatening of INEC’s ad-hoc staff have been reported.

Imo state governor Rochas Okorocha and Jones Onyereri of the PDP, are said to be in a tight race over who will win the Imo West senatorial district.

But according to Onyereri’s claims, “I am here to alert the whole world an hour ago that collation center for the Imo West Senatorial district has been invaded’

Court asks INEC to make Kabba, collation centre for Kogi West

He alleged that, “they are forcing the returning officer, Professor I.I Ibewuchi to declare Okorocha winner.’

Onyereri was worried by the manner in which “the governor, his staff, security agents led by the assistant Commissioner of police, Onu arrived at the collation center.

He also said : “At about 1am, Ibeawuchi pleaded that let us go to Owerri and announce this result that he is not safe again at the collation center, but they refused and stopped the man I hope the man stays alive in the next one minute. We are calling on international community to come to our rescue concerning the invasion.

“Just imagine, the number turned out in Ideato federal constituency is far above the registered voters.

“As it is now, they have not announced the genuine results, that is why they refused the man from coming to Owerri.” He concluded.