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Hundreds of aggrieved youths from Okigwe zone on Tuesday brought activities at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Oeerri to a halt over what they described as dangerous dimension the just concluded bye election in Imo North Senatorial District is taking.
Armed with placards of various inscription like Nature Abhors Vacuum, Declare PDP Winner Now,Let Peoples Will Prevail INEC ,Time of substitution of candidate has elapsed,Please INEC don’t set bad record among others.
Addressing newsmen Comrade Chiedozie Ibekwe, said it is an aberration to the rule of law that a party that went into the election without a bonafide candidate was declared winner of that election.
He said among other things that INEC, had disappointed the people of Imo North Senatorial district by declaring a political party, (All Progressives Congress) winner of the December 5, bye-election without a candidate.
Ibekwe who is the Coordinator of Coalition of Okigwe Youths said " we cannot fold our hands and watch the zone held at ransom by dubious and desperate politicians who do not mean well for the zone, we demand the will of the people in regards to 5th Dec senatorial bye-election to prevail"
He argued that in this case, that the candidate who came second should have been declared winner instead of a political party.
According to Ibekwe,"is a known fact that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their candidate, Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu won the bye-election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on December 5, 2020. "
"We find it improper that in spite of the available evidences and reasons for INEC to declare PDP and Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu winner of the bye-election, the Commission declared the loser, All Progressives Congress (APC), winner instead.
Our position is hinged around the issue of INEC announcing results and declaring APC winner without announcing and declaring the precise candidate that won the election with APC ticket. We know why that happened. "
I"it was because earlier on Friday, December 4, 2020 the Court of Appeal disqualified the candidature of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume because he did not win the primary election conducted by APC for the bye-election, while on the same day, a Federal High Court disqualified the candidature of Hon. Frank Ibezim because he submitted fake certificates to INEC."
" We expected INEC to declare PDP and Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu winner in view of the technical disqualification of APC by the Courts from participating in the bye-election. Therefore, we use this peaceful protest to call on INEC to comply with the Court disqualification of APC and their candidate."
Reacting on behalf of INEC,the Public Relations Officer, PRO, Emmanuella Opara, commended them for their peaceful protest and advised them to channel their grievances to the tribunal as according to the law.
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