The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have continued to trade words following the outcome of Saturday’s rerun election in Imo State.
At a press conference on Monday in Owerri, the state capital, the PDP and its candidate in the Imo North senatorial election insisted that they won the election.
The PDP Caretaker Chairman in the state, Martin Ejiogu, accused the Imo APC of massive rigging and manipulation of the original results from the polling booths.
He called on the Presidency and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to intervene in the matter.
The PDP asked them to address the lapses in the poll and declare the PDP candidate winner of the election.
In his response to the allegations, the Deputy Chairman of the APC in Imo State, Ugochukwu Nzekwe, said that the reaction from the PDP was uncalled for and unwarranted.
He maintained that the APC remains the only popular party in the state that has delivered the dividends of democracy to the people.
Saturday’s poll is the fourth time elections in Imo North senatorial district will end inconclusively.
The Returning Officer in the election, Austin Agbaogu, said that the poll was declared inconclusive not because of violence but due to the number of cancelled votes which was 13,919 and was higher than the margin between the first and second contestant.
He said that the PDP candidate, Mr Athan Achonu, garnered 40, 142 votes while the APC candidate, Mr Benjamin Uwajumogu, scored 48,921 votes.
The electoral umpire in a statement fixed Thursday, July 28 to conduct the make-up elections in about 15 polling units where votes were cancelled.
