Stakeholders seek immediate announcement of Imo governorship result

…Demand documentation of Gov. Okorocha’s infractions

Imo Sons and Daughters (ISD), a coalition of several community based associations of Imo State indigenes living outside the state have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to, as a matter of urgency, announce the result of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

The coalition which condemned what it called desperate efforts by Governor Rochas Okorocha and some dubious security agents to scuttle the will of Imo people, called for the collation and prompt announcement of the result, in order to avoid security breach across the state.

They also demanded for the arrest and documentation of the violence and other electoral offences committed by the governor so that he can face prosecution after May 29, when he is expected to hand over to a new governor.

Addressing some selected journalists at the side of INEC the collation centre in Owerri Monday, the deputy national coordinator of ISD Uchenna Melariri said it would be an effort in futility for anybody to attempt to tamper with the result of the election as it is already obvious who have won and who have lost.

“We, Imo Sons and Daughters (ISD), a coalition of several associations of Imo State indigenes living outside the state hereby employ INEC to continue its work by ensuring that the result of the governorship election held in the state last Saturday is released without further delay.

“INEC should not be deterred to release the result in its possession as the outcome of the election is already known to the public.

“We are aware of the violence, the killings and the intimidation of voters; and even INEC officials by agents and thugs said to be loyal to the state governor, Rochas Okorocha. We however call on the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), the Returning Officers and all INEC officials to be resolute in their commitment to deliver quality service to the fatherland.

“We are in the know also, of the various acts of impunity committed by the state governor during the February 23 presidential election including forcing INEC officials to declare self-generated result under serious threat to life; and for which INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu directed that no certificate of return should be given to those who sponsor terror against INEC and the people,” ISD said.

Continuing, the coalition said thousands of its members have travelled from various states where they reside down to the state where they have performed their civic duty of voting for candidates of their choice, urging INEC to ensure that their votes count.

“Many of our members came down from as far as Kano state. Others returned from Lagos, Maiduguri, Ibadan, Minna, Ilorin, Port Harcourt, Abuja and other places because of the need to use our votes liberate our state and our people from misrule by one man and his immediate family for the past Eight years.

Together with our relatives at home, we have made the statement clear with our votes that Imo shall be set free through peaceful means which we have achieved on Saturday.

“We are ready to go the whole distance by maintaining eternal vigilance until the final results are announced, as no sacrifice is too big or too much to set our people free from bondage,” ISD said; and demanded the arrest and prosecution of the state governor for sponsoring electoral violence.

“They say that Rochas is a sitting governor and therefore cannot be prosecuted. Does immunity also preclude a governor from prosecution on acts capable of taking lives of people and which have actually led to the death of many in the state already?

“Our second demand therefore is simple. Arrest or if you like, invite governor Rochas Okorocha to write his statement on the various acts of violence perpetrated against the people during the national assembly election and the Saturday governorship election.

Document his statements on the two so that his prosecution can commence as soon as he hands over to a new governor on May 29 this year.

“We are confidence that Rochas’s days as the emperor of Imo are numbered. In a few weeks from now, he will vacate the governorship seat and would then face the consequences of his various acts of impunity against Imo State and our peace loving people,” ISD concluded.