The Returning Officer for the Imo West Senatorial District election, Professor Ibeawuchi Innocent, says he declared Governor Rochas Okorocha the winner of the poll under duress.
He made the allegation on Monday while announcing the results of the poll held in the district.
“I declared this thing before under duress; I’m still under duress declaring this one,” Professor Innocent said.
He then went on to declare, “That Okorocha Anayo Rochas of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, has scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.”
According to the result, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate polled 97,762 votes to defeat the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jones Onyereri, who scored 68,117 votes.
The candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Osita Izunaso, secured 30,084 votes.
Okorocha reacts
Governor Okorocha, however, rejected the allegations and accused the returning officer of acting a script.
He, therefore, called on the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) in Imo state to call the official to order.
“That guy is playing a script and that is why I must ask the INEC REC to quickly correct some of these abnormalities,” Governor Okorocha said.
