IMO: Women protest Army’s alleged role in declaring Gov Okorocha senator-elect

A strong march reportedly led by women from the 12 local government is ongoing in Imo State over the alleged involvement of the Army in the controversial declaration of governor Rochas Okorocha, as senator-elect for Imo west at last Saturday’s polls.

Reports say the women who are marching in their numbers are now heading to 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, to protest the outcome of the election which witnessed the emergence of Okorocha as the Imo west senator-elect, under dubious circumstances.

Recall that days after the polls, the Returning Officer claimed that he announced incumbent Imo State governor, Okorocha, winner of the senatorial election in the zone under duress.

Read also: BENUE: Promise to retire Akume fulfilled, Gov Ortom gloats

In a similar situation, Professor Meshach Umenweke, who served as Returning Officer in last Saturday’s elections in Anambra South senatorial district, claimed that he only declared the candidate of Young Progressives Party (YPP), Ifeanyi Ubah, winner to save his life.

In a letter he wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Umenweke recanted the earlier declaration and said that the election was inconclusive.

The letter dated February 25 and addressed to the Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner read in part, “That there were skirmishes within the compound of the Nnewi North Local Government Area (headquarters) where the results were being collated between the police and some thugs who sought to gain entrance to the area of collation. The situation was volatile, intense and charged.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now