Jega reads riot act as Imo polls hold, govt imposes curfew

BARRING any negative unforeseen development, the Imo State supplementary governorship election will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) tomorrow.The main contenders are Governor Ikedi Ohakim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Owelle Rochas Okorocha.The state government which has declared curfew in four local councils urged all parties involved in the exercise to abide by INECs plan for the polls.Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday in Owerri said contrary to the opinions held by some people that materials for the polls had arrived in the hands of alleged riggers, nothing of such had happened. He also said that any electoral offender in the polls would have himself to blame even as any case of ballot-snatching would lead to cancellation of results in the affected area.Jega, who was represented by an INEC National Commissioner, Dr. Ishmael Igbani, at a stakeholders meeting held in Owerri, made it clear that the commission had made arrangements for more security personnel to be deployed in different parts of the state for the polls.Flanked by four Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and National Commissioners, including the new supervisory RECs in the state, Aniedi A. Ikowak, Mike Igini of Cross River State, Nasir Ayilara of Benue State, Oludere, the Imo State Commissioner for Police for the election, Mohammed Yabo Tambari, Commander 34 Field Artillery Brigade, Brig.-Gen Aaron Danpome, State Security Service (SSS) director, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) commander for Imo, David Mende, among others, Ignani emphasised that elections would only take place in the areas listed, adding that there would be restriction, even inter-state movement.At the forum attended by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate, Chief Rochas Okorocha, state chairman of the Peoples Demoractic Party (PDP), Chief Eze Duruiheoma (SAN), among other party chieftains, two security chiefs, Yabo and Danpome, assured the electorate that there would be security of lives and property.However, various stakeholders, and interest groups, including Imoprofessionals have sent a Save Imo Supplementary Election FromRigging, letter to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, urging him to personally be in the state to oversee the scheduled election.They also enjoined the Imo electorate to troop out to vote again and protect their ballots. They also called on local and international election observers to relocate to Imo State in big numbers to forestall any further attempts to rig the supplementary election and undermine the will of the people.The declared curfew which begins today from 7.00 pm to 6.00 am and ends on Saturday May 7 was imposed on Ngor Okpala, Ohaji / Egbema, Oguta, Mbaitolu and Orji Ward in Owerri North respectively.Ohakim said the curfew was to forestall break down of law and order and to ensure that the areas were not invaded by miscreants.He assured voters in these areas of adequate security and urged the people to come out in their numbers and vote for candidate of their choice.The governor urged the people to shun rumour-mongers and those out to instigate mayhem in the state.But Okorocha has listed conditions for the supplementary polls to be acceptable to him and his party.The APGAs governorship candidate who urged the Federal Government and the INEC officials to quickly make a categorical statement on his plea, insisted that the Federal University of Technology (FUTO)s Vice Chancellor, Celestine Onwuliri should not be made to bring in any of his aides in conducting the polls, alleging that an aide of the VC had been fingered in an electoral fraud already. He also accused Governor Ikedim Ohakim of sharing money to influence the electorate.Okorocha also accused INEC members of staff in Imo of compromising, alleging that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had commenced thumb-printing in the bush in the state. He used the opportunity to show video clips of areas where they allegedly captured some highly-placed officials of the PDP destroying some ballot papers  and  thumb-printing new ones.INEC had last week scheduled supplementary election in Ohaji/Egbema, Mbaitoli, Ngor Opkala, Oguta local councils and Orji wards where the April 26 elections in the state were declared by the collation officer in the state, Prof. Enoch Akobundu, as inconclusive because of some perceived irregularities in the four councils out of 27 local councils in the state. He had announced 23 councils results.Reacting to the accusation, the PDPs Publicity Secretary in the state, Blydeen Amajirionwu, said there was no such thing by the PDP, adding that the APGA was afraid of facing the party. We are ready for the polls. They are indicating that they APGA are not ready.In the statement by the stakeholder groups Director of Media and Strategy, Barrister Uchenna Nwachukwu, the INEC Chairman was lauded for his prompt withdrawal of the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) and husband of Ohakims running mate, Prof. Celestine Onwuliri, as the Returning Officer for the Imo Governorship and House of Assembly Election, where over 80 per cent of the ad hoc staff used during the said election were drawn from.Jega was urged to engage ad hoc members of staff from outside the South-East to administer the supplementary polls.
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