The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared elections in Imo State inconclusive.
Before the INEC’s decision on Sunday, the incumbent Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rochas Okorocha, was leading. He had won in 20 Local Government Areas(LGAs) out of 27 LGAs.
In a telephone interview with Channels Television, Governor Okorocha expressed confidence that he would win the elections.
“It is not the first time elections in the my state are declared inconclusive. I went through it in 2011.
“This clearly shows who the winner of the election is,” he said.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the elongated process of result announcement, the governor said out of the about 1.8 million voters, only
1.44 million collected their Permanent Voter Cards and less than 700,000 people voted which sums up to 40 per cent.
He further said that he would like to go for a supplementary election, but however, admitted that the election process was free and fair in some areas. He said turnout was not as expected.
The major contender and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party declined making any comment on the electoral process.
This is not the first time that elections in Imo State will be declared inconclusive. In 2011, INEC also declared elections that brought Governor Okorocha in inconclusive. After investigations a supplementary election was held and Governor Okorocha, who contested then under the All Progressive Grand Alliance, was declared winner.
