In a stunning political triumph, Hope Uzodimma emerges victorious to claim a second term as the Governor of Imo State, decisively clinching victory across all 27 Local Government Areas. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) formalized Uzodimma’s win, announcing a commanding lead with 540,308 votes. In a distant second, Samuel Anyanwu of the People’s Democratic Party garnered 71,503 votes, while Athan Achonu of the Labour Party secured the third position with 64,081 votes.

The announcement unfolded at the state collation center in Owerri, the state capital, with Prof. Abayomi Fasina, the Returning Officer and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, officiating. “The candidate of the All-Progressives Congress, Good Hope Uzodimma, having scored the highest number of votes and satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner of the election and returned elected,” declared Prof. Fasina.

However, the celebratory atmosphere was not without contention. The State Agent of the Labour Party, Callistus Ihejiagwa, faced an unexpected turn of events as he was physically removed from the collation center. Ihejiagwa vehemently protested the results, alleging manipulation in favor of the APC candidate. Kissinger Ikeokwu, the PDP’s state agent, also left the collation center in response to the unfolding events, emphasizing claims of election irregularities.

The night before, both the PDP and LP had jointly called for the outright cancellation of the poll. Samuel Anyanwu, in a press conference, asserted that the election was rigged in favor of Uzodimma. Additionally, Tony Nwulu, the deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party, accused security agents of facilitating an environment for INEC staff and APC members to manipulate the poll results.

Despite these challenges, Uzodimma’s victory solidifies his political standing, setting the stage for his second term inauguration scheduled for January 14, 2024.

Source: The Punch