Mass protests planned in Imo State as locals object to Inec's suspension of result declaration amid rumours thugs are running riot

IMO State is facing an uneasy few days after the Independent national Electoral Commission (Inec) suspended the further declaration of governorship election results amid increased thuggery with the three main contenders all claiming they are leading in the polls.

In what was a three-horse race, the battle for the governorship of Imo State is between Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Rocha Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, who is contesting on the platform of the Action Alliance and Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Over the last 24 hours, the situation has got violent, forcing Inec to stop announcing results.

Communities across the state are now set for a mass protest to demand the immediate announcement of results amid allegations that Governor Okorocha is sponsoring bandit to attack political opponents. According to the PDP, Hon Ihedioha, a former speaker of the House of Representatives is currently cruising to victory in all the local government areas announced so far by Inec.

However, there have been several reports concerning the activities of Governor Okorocha's aides including his special adviser to on electoral matters Steve Asinobi and the governor’s friend Paschal Onwukaike. Both have been accused of being the masterminds of the violent disruption of collation of the governorship election results.

Agents of other parties were said to have complained that only Action Alliance agent signed the result sheets, with everyone else excluded. They alleged that Governor Okorocha personally chased out all party agents and replaced the Inec results with figures that he personally compiled.

Following the trouble caused by these thugs, electoral officers were quickly smuggled out of the hall by security agents. In Umuaka, in Orlu Local Government Area for instance, a young diasporan, who just returned to Nigeria from abroad in order to participate in the election was killed.

Identified as Uchenna Agugua, the diseased who hails from Umuaka community in Orlu Local Government Area, was killed following mayhem said to have been caused by thugs. Apparently, he came back from Mozambique just for and his body has been deposited in the mortuary as investigations are going on to apprehend all those connected to the killing.