…says We’ll Reclaim Our Mandate, LP’s Achonu Tells Supporters
…Condemns assault on Party Chairman, Callistus Ihejiagwa
Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the November 11 Imo Governorship Election, Sen. Athan Achonu has accused the security agencies rigging the election for Sen Hope Uzodimma by providing cover for the party to write fictional results.
This even as he has reassured his supporters of his gratitude for their unflinching solidarity in the face of provocation during the November 11 Governorship Election.
He commended supporters of the LP for their steadfastness and assured them that he would reclaim the mandate.
He further rejected the results of the election saying he would seek redress through the courts.
“ To you my supporters, thank you for your doggedness and steadfastness, you fought hard and I am proud of you all.
“ I’ve not lost hope in the judiciary, there are so many men of integrity therein and we shall reclaim our mandate”, he said.
He said that the election was “marred by irregularities including vote buying and physical assaults of LP agents and deserving of outright cancellation. The Security Agencies including the Army and police, DSS with the exception aided the rigging of the election for Sen Hope Uzodimma , recorded evidences abound such as that of a police officer who was beaten by voters for attempting to snatch a ballot box “.
He said that voting in many locations was done without BVAS accreditation, contrary to the assurances of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the election.
“ Our democracy was raped in the full glare of security personnel whose salaries we pay from our common wealth.
“ Collation was suddenly moved from the ward centres to LG centres and only agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were allowed into the collation centres, agents of other parties were locked out.
He however condemned the assault and detention of the LP Chairman in Imo, Mr Callistus Ihejiagwa, at the state collation centre, and called for the immediate arrest of those who beat him up.
“ My party Chairman was beat up at the collation centre as is evident in a widely circulated video and instead of arresting those who beat him, the police arrested and detained him.
“ Let’s save the drift into anarchy, let’s save our country and her democracy, there was no election yesterday and we call on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to cancel the purported results “, he said.