Opposition parties in Imo and Kogi states have rejected the declaration of Hope Uzodimma and Alhaji Usman Ododo both of the All Progressives Congress the winners of Saturday’s governorship elections held in the respective states.
Imo State: Uzodimma’s Landslide Victory Sparks Dispute
Hope Uzodimma, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, secured a resounding victory in Imo State, winning in all 27 local councils, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Abayomi Fasina. Uzodimma garnered 540,308 votes, overshadowing Senator Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 71,503 votes and Senator Athan Achonu of the Labour Party (LP) with 64,081 votes.
However, the victory faced immediate resistance as both the PDP and LP candidates raised complaints, urging the cancellation of the results. Allegations of irregularities and calls for a thorough review of the election process marked the aftermath of Uzodimma’s landslide win.
Kogi State: Ododo’s Triumph Amidst Opposition Claims
In Kogi State, Alhaji Usman Ododo of the APC emerged victorious, amassing 446,237 votes. With results from 18 out of 21 LGAs released, Ododo’s substantial lead, winning in 11 LGAs and securing 417,166 votes, positioned him for an inevitable triumph. Meanwhile, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) won in six LGAs, polling 208,503 votes, while Senator Dino Melaye of the PDP struggled, scoring 41,925 votes. Leke Abejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) clinched victory in one LGA.
The final results hinged on the outcome of the remaining three LGAs— Ibaji, Lokoja, and Igalamela-Odolu. Despite Melaye’s swift rejection of results from certain LGAs, Ododo’s victory appeared unassailable.
Bayelsa State: Diri Leads Amidst Protest
Governor Douye Diri, seeking re-election on the PDP platform, took the lead in Bayelsa State, securing wins in five of the six announced LGAs. The APC’s Chief Timipre Sylva won in one LGA, Nembe. The PDP accumulated 137,909 votes, overshadowing the APC with 73,503 votes.
However, protests erupted in Bayelsa as allegations of manipulated election results from Nembe Bassambiri surfaced. Civil society groups, women’s organizations, youth groups, and concerned citizens gathered at the INEC office, decrying attempts to distort the vote. The Bayelsa State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dambo Biriyai, called on INEC officials to reject alleged fake results, emphasizing the need for transparency.
Imo Opposition’s Rejection and Legal Action
In Imo, Senator Achonu, the LP Governorship Candidate, vehemently rejected the election result, citing irregularities, vote-buying, and physical assaults on LP agents. Addressing the media in Ehime Mbano LGA, Achonu called for the outright cancellation of the election, emphasizing that justice would be sought through legal means. He alleged compromise on the part of security personnel and criticized the shift in collation locations, limiting access for non-APC agents.
“Our democracy was raped in the full glare of security personnel, whose salaries we pay from our commonwealth. Collation was suddenly moved from the ward to LG centres, and only APC agents were allowed to enter, while agents of other parties were locked out.
“I have not lost hope in the judiciary, there are so many men of integrity therein, and we shall reclaim our mandate,” Achonu said.
Achonu condemned the assault and detention of LP Chairman in Imo, Mr. Callistus Ihejiagwa, at the state collation center, urging the immediate arrest of those responsible. Despite the challenges, Achonu expressed confidence in the judiciary and the eventual reclamation of their mandate.
“My party chairman was beaten up at the collation centre, as is evident in a widely circulated video. And instead of arresting those who beat him, the police arrested and detained him.
“Let’s save the drift into anarchy, let’s save our country and her democracy. There was no election yesterday and we call on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to cancel the purported results,” Achonu said.
PDP’s Call for Total Cancellation in Imo
Similarly, Senator Anyanwu of the PDP called for the total cancellation of the Imo election. Accusing INEC and security agents of failing in their constitutional responsibility, he asserted that security agents protected INEC staff as APC members allegedly rewrote results. Anyanwu, like Achonu, rejected anything short of a complete annulment of the poll.
The contentious atmosphere in Imo and Kogi, coupled with protests in Bayelsa, underscores the need for a thorough investigation into alleged irregularities, ensuring that the electoral process aligns with principles of fairness and transparency. As the opposition rallies for legal recourse, the aftermath of these elections may shape the broader discourse on the democratic process in Nigeria.
