NEC orders arrest of LG Collation Officer in Imo over results alteration

The Independent National Commission, INEC, Electoral Returning Officer, Christian Ogbuagbu, for Imo State elections, has ordered the arrest of Christian Ehirim, the Collation Officer of Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area (LGA), for allegedly altering the results of elections in the local government area.

The order was issued on Monday as INEC resumed collation of results in the state.

Ogbuagbu, who already had the results from the field, announced that the figures Ehirim presented were doctored. He gave the order, and immediately, security operatives moved in and took Ehirim away.

Ogbuagbu, a professor, the Vice Chancellor, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State while Ehirim is also a professor in the same university.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate in Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has taken the lead in the results from the 11 local government areas so far declared.

The former deputy speaker, House of Representatives, is leading other candidates with over 70,000 votes, having polled 128,732 votes.

His closest rival, Uche Nwosu of Action Alliance, had so far scored 66,852 followed by Senator Ifeanyi Ararume of the All Progressives Congress Grand Alliance who scored 37,107.

The All Progressives Congress candidate, Senator Hope Uzodimma has polled 27,331 while the Accord Party candidate, Ihedi Ohakim scored 2,047.

The declaration of result was disrupted at 5.00am in the early hours of Monday by a point of order raised by the PDP agent, who was challenged by Uche Onyeagocha, Special Adviser to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State on Electoral Matters, Steve Asinobi, and his associate, Paschal Onwukaike.

Their action against the opposition of the PDP agent to the declaration of the results for Ideato South Local Government Area which was suspected to have been tempered with.