Tension as Ohakim, Okorocha Await Imo Guber Results

Rochas Okorocha , APGA Guber Candidate in Imo

By Amby Uneze  in Owerri

The atmosphere in Imo State was tense Friday night as counting of votes in the supplementary governorship election in four local government areas and Orji Ward in Owerri North in the state was in progress.

The supplementary poll in the areas where the April 26 election was inconclusive will determine the winner of the governorship election between Governor Ikedim Ohakim of the Peoples Democratic Party and Owelle Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
But the election was characterised by late arrival of election materials particularly in Mbaitoli and Ngor Okpala and allegations of ballot thumb-printing, arrests of political stalwarts including a local government chairman in Ngor Okpala as well as alleged complicity of security agencies in ballot snatching and thumb-printing.

The police had deployed 10,000 men in the state for the election while the Independent National Electoral Commission sent four national commissioners to the state to ensure the success of the poll.
There was no election in Oguta local government as voters were embroiled in controversy over whether complete election materials were in place for the poll.

Notwithstanding that electoral materials got to some polling units late, the electorate maintained some level of discipline as they were seen queuing up in an orderly manner while waiting anxiously to be accredited.
In Orji Primary School, voters arrived the venue at about 8.00am waiting to be accredited.
INEC staff were on hand to start the process before the arrival of hoodlums who tried to disperse the crowd but for the quick intervention of security personnel who brought the situation under control.

As soon as this initial setback was overcome, another drama played out as the INEC officials complained of lack of chairs and tables in the school premises as the school authorities had locked up the school furniture.
It took the intervention of the  INEC Supervisory Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Aniedi Abassi Ikoiwak, who sourced for these items locally before the commencement of accreditation of voters at about 9.30am.

In Egbeada, Mbaitoli local government area booth 1 and 2  , hot augment broke out between the INEC officials and some voters over alleged incomplete electoral materials and the voters insisted that they would not participate until the entire materials were in place.
At Oguta local government area, one of the opposition parties insisted that there would be no election in the council area because of incomplete materials.
Not even the heavy presence of the security chiefs and senior INEC officials could change things.
Speaking to THISDAY, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Gerald Irona, observed that the major opposition party felt that PDP would win in the area and as such they decided not to vote.
According to him, they went and mobilized some thugs.

“We are ready for the election since the necessary materials are here for distribution” he said.
An agent of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Gerald Okorocha , insisted that INEC did not bring complete materials and as such “we are not going to participate in the election”.

The INEC Supervisory REC, Ikoiwak, after surveying the situation said that the election in Oguta would not hold as the time was far spent.
However, the Action Congress of Nigeria candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, may determine who becomes the next governor of the state.

Although he came third in the original election held on April 26, whoever Araraume  and his supporters back between Ohakim and Okorocha is likely to win the poll.
The supplementary election has now effectively become a run-off between Ohakim and Okorocha.