By Milcah Tanimu

The Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Governor Hope Uzodimma, the All Progressives Congress candidate, as the winner of Imo State’s governorship poll on Saturday has sparked discontent from the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party.

Having triumphed in all 27 local government areas of the state, Uzodimma secured a second term with a total of 540,008 votes. In a parallel development in Kogi, the APC’s Usman Ododo clinched victory with 446,237 votes, according to the announcement made by the state Returning Officer, Prof Johnson Urama, late Sunday night. The Social Democratic Party’s Muri Ajaka closely followed with 259,052 votes.

In the Imo State election, PDP’s Samuel Anyanwu garnered 71,503 votes, while the Labour Party’s Athan Aconu secured 64,081 votes. However, both opposition parties, PDP and LP, are calling for the complete annulment of the poll, alleging collusion between security agents and INEC staff to facilitate election rigging by APC members.

The total number of registered voters was 1,932,474, with 794,500 accredited voters. Out of the 791,890 total votes cast, 9,601 were rejected. Meanwhile, in Bayelsa State, the announcement of results from Brass and Southern Ijaw local government areas is slated for Monday, as confirmed by Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, Head of Department, Voter Education, and Publicity at the INEC office in Yenagoa. The PDP and LP, dissatisfied with the electoral process, are urging the nullification of the results, asserting that both INEC and security agents failed in their constitutional duty to ensure a credible election in the state.