Imo LGA Election: Returning Officer allegedly forced to overturn initial cancellation, declare APC candidates winners

The Imo State Local Government Council election took a dramatic turn on Saturday as the Returning Officer for the election of Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Council which was cancelled earlier in the day due to the lack of result sheet was later announced in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The Returning Officer, Mrs Stella Onumajuru was forced to declare the Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates of APC winners, according to credible sources monitoring the election in Owerri, Imo State capital.

The election was conducted by the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC).

Multiple sources confirmed to select journalists that, the ISIEC officer made the declaration after being held “under duress” by the APC chairmanship candidate, Larry Chikwe and other leaders of the party.

Earlier in the day the election was delayed due to non-distribution of electoral materials, hence, electorate have to wait for a long hours before casting their votes.

“The Returning officer was forced to announce APC candidates as winners of LG election this night in the home of APC chairmanship candidate after canceling the election earlier in the day over absence of result sheet,” one of the sources said.

Another added, “The Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Council election in Imo State which was earlier canceled today at 2.02pm by the returning officer/electoral officer of Ahiazu Mbaise, lmo state independent Electoral commission ISIEC, Mrs Stella Onumajuru due to unavailability of original result sheets to conduct elections in the different polling units.

“She held a media press briefing at the local government council hall in Afor Oru in Imo State but later this evening, she was held to ransom by the APC chairmanship candidate, Mr. Larry Chikwe and the Ahiazu Mbaise House of Assembly member, Mr. Samuel Otuibe, in company of the Divisional Police Officer of Ahiazu Mbaise to pronounce all the 12 APC Councilorship candidates and the Chairman as the winners of the election which never took place.

“It should be recalled that the DPO of Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, who was with the returning officer of the LGA council, also aided the APC Chairmanship candidate in announcing the return of all the APC Councilorship candidates and the Chairman in an unknown environment.”