By Ishaya Ibrahim
A member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, Ogu Bundu Nwadike, has accused the state governor, Rochas Okorocha, of breaching the spirit and letters of the peace pact signed by all political parties involved in the general elections.
On Tuesday, February 12, 2019, the Imo State Police Command at their State headquarters, Owerri, in conjunction with the armed forces in the state, organised a peace accord signing ceremony for the gubernatorial candidates of the various political parties in the State.
“It is worrisome that barely after few days of putting pen on paper, one hell of a peace-threatening violence was brokered by the combined force of Rochas Okorocha and his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu and unleashed upon Imo people, particularly in their Imo East Senatorial District (Orlu), an election in which the governor was a candidate,” Nwadike said.
He said Okorocha started breaching the peace pact by viciously demolishing the mansion of Dr Henry Okafor, a one time ally of Okorocha until political differences set them apart.
He said during a campaign rally in Oguta local government, the governor’s security detail allegedly fired bullets that led to the death of two people.
“Then came Saturday, February 23, 2019. As the presidential and national assembly elections were going on, violence was reported to be raging in parts of Oguta and Ohaji-Egbema LGAs. Both LGAs are in Orlu Zone.
“One of the governor’s associates, Kingsley Chima Uju, was deeply fingered as supervising the brigandage in Ohaji-Egbema LGA, while the governor personally stormed the polling units in his Ogboko Wards 1, 3, and 4, commandeered the polling units, scared away voters and snatched away all snatchables,” Nwadike lamented.
He said at the end of the election, results from the polling units that were confiscated by the Governor, were not returned to the collation centre until 48 hours after.
He said the returning officer was threatened to declare and announce a result he did not collate, which he refused until he later caved and declared Okorocha winner of the Imo East Senatorial District election, instead of Chudi Jones Onyereri, the rightful winner as proved by the authentic results signed by INEC officials and party agents at the polling units.
Nwadike said despite the violence and threats the Governor unleashed on voting day, he could only win, albeit questionably,Ideato North and Ideato South local governments, while his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu managed to win his Nkwerre local government.
“The rest of 24 local governments were won by the more peaceful and law-abiding PDP, whose candidates, leaders and members honoured the peace accord,” Nwadike said.