The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Saturday’s governorship election in Abia and Imo States inconclusive.
The Imo State Collation Officer, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, noted that the Electoral Law provides for the declaration of an election inconclusive when the margin of victory is less than the number of voters in areas where election was cancelled. He disclosed that the electorate in places where the Abia guber election was cancelled is in excess of 170,000.
A new date is expected to be fixed soon for a supplementary election between the two heavyweight candidates.
As at the time of the declaraing Imo state election inconclusive, incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Owelle Rochas Okorocha, was leading, having won in 20 out of the 27 local government areas.
Meanwhile, Governor Okorocha expressed confidence that he would win the elections.
“It is not the first time elections in 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 and not as expected.
The major contender, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declined making any comment on the electoral process.
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 Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was declared winner.
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