Gov Okorocha denies rigging Imo elections

Gov Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has denied rigging the Imo West Senatorial district for himself, insisting he deserved to win the election.

Recall that less than 24 hours after Gov. Rochas Okorocha was declared winner of the Imo West senatorial election, Prof Innocent Ibeawuchi, had alleged that he was forced to declare Okorocha the winner of the poll by the supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

Recall that the Returning Officer for Imo West (Orlu) senatorial zone, Professor Innocent Ibeabuchi, had on Monday narrated how he was threatened and forced to declare Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state as winner of the Imo West Senatorial district.

According to the returning officer, who stated this while announcing the result, he was detained at the collation centre for days.

However, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, the governor described the returning officer as “a bloody liar who may be acting a script”.

“Having won in nine out of the 12 local government areas announced, we heard that they were trying to move the result sheets to Owerri but when we demanded an explanation, the man (Ibeawuchi) said he was tired and didn’t feel safe, when nobody was threatening him. At the end, we discovered that he didn’t have the declaration sheet. I wonder where this is taking us. I hope INEC would change this system because we will resist them if they try it in the next election,” he said.

The governor added, “They should examine the returning officer to know his mental state. If he doesn’t have a mental illness, then he must be a criminal to ever think of that. How could someone ask you to change the result of an election he has already won? My score is above 90,000 and the nearest to me is slightly above half of it, when you combine both Jones and Izunaso’s votes. They can’t match or contest against me in Imo State not to talk of Orlu zone.

“I asked the Resident Electoral Commissioner here to quickly correct these anomalies. The returning officer is a bloody liar who may be acting a script.”