•Opposition lawmakers reject result

From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri and Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

Governor Hope Uzodimma has dedicated his election victory to God and the people of the state.

In his acceptance speech, he also vowed to consolidate on his achievements. 

“Of course, I can never thank God enough for doing it again for me. He has shown that He did it four years ago, and has done it again, to His honour and glory. So, I dedicate this victory to God and the good people of Imo State.  I must  confess that I am truly humbled and deeply appreciative of every single vote I received across the 27 local government areas in the state. They all contributed to giving me a clear, historic and unprecedented victory over my opponents.”

Governor Uzodimma also extended an Olive branch to his fellow contestants and urged them to join him to build a better state. He also affirmed that the series of endorsement by so many stakeholders in the state was a clear manifestation of the results of the election.

“You have made me proud indeed. It is now my turn to keep my own side of the bargain. On that note, I wish to repeat my earlier covenant with God and Imo people. I will not let Imo people down and I will serve with utmost honesty and the fear of God.

“Let me be clear. Your message to me through overwhelming endorsement, is that you appreciate what I have done in office so far, and you want me to do even more. I heard you loud and clear. It is an invitation to do more and do better, and that is exactly what I will do.

“I do not take this victory lightly. I am aware of your desires and expectations. In this regard, let me reassure you that I will continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to Imo people under our 3R mantra of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery.

“I will continue to provide a transparent, accountable, and transformative leadership to Imo people. I will continue to provide an inclusive platform for all Imo people to have a say on how they are governed. These are my promises, and I believe this was why you voted for me. And I will keep them.

“In a democratic contest such as the one that held yesterday, only one person will emerge victorious. Since it has pleased God and Imo people to confer that honour and privilege on me, I congratulate and commiserate with my brothers who contested the election with me. They did not lose, but Imo people won. This collective victory is for the good of the people and the progress of our state. I, therefore, call on all of them to join hands with me to continue to build the Imo of our collective dreams.”

Meanwhile, five governorship candidates, including Andy Anyanbuike of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Isaac Iwuanyanwu of the Booth Party (BP), Clinton Edoziem of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Ishiodu Uchechukwu of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Lawrence Okwara of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) have congratulated Uzodimma and vowed to work with him.

The ZLP candidate, Anyanbuike, who spoke on behalf of the other contestants assured Uzodimma that a committee would be set up to harmonise other aggrieved candidates and ensure that none of them takes the battle to the tribunal.

However, opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives have rejected the declaration of Governor Hope Uzodimma.

The lawmakers, led by member representing Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, said the results declared by INEC did not reflect the votes cast in the election.

They claimed the election was marred by rigging, intimidation, non use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System ( BVAS) machine, and false declaration of results in several polling units.

Ugochinyere noted that if votes from areas where there was overvoting, and where elections were not held were deducted, it would be clear that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Anyanwu, scored the highest number of valid votes and ought to have been declared the winner of the poll.

He alleged there were plans by the Information Technology (IT) department of the INEC to upload figures into the BVAS machines to tally with the results declared by the electoral body.

“More than 90 percent of the votes allocated to Uzodimma was not votes that passed through the accreditation process as the turnout in the election was very low and this could be because of the insecurity in Imo State,” Ugochinyere stated.