In a dramatic twist following the Imo State governorship election, Labour Party candidate Athan Achonu passionately called for the cancellation of the poll results, alleging collusion between security operatives and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the outcome. Speaking with fervor, Achonu vowed to pursue justice through the courts, emphasizing that his party's supporters were intimidated and harassed, challenging the authenticity of the declared results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a press address on Sunday at his country home, Achonu revealed a stark contrast to INEC's pre-election assurances, citing instances where voting occurred without Biometric Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) accreditation. He shared compelling evidence, including an incident where a police officer was reportedly assaulted by voters attempting to snatch a ballot box.
Expressing deep concern, Achonu declared, "Today is a very sad day for democracy, for good governance, for equal opportunity, and for freedom of choice." He laid blame on security agencies, asserting that a "security agency coup" had taken place, overshadowing the electoral process. Urging action to prevent further erosion of democracy, he concluded, "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." The plea sets the stage for a potentially contentious legal battle as the aftermath of the election unfolds.
