Drama as APC wins Imo senatorial by-election without candidate

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sunday declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Imo North Senatorial by-election, held on Saturday, without a candidate being named.

The Election Returning Officer, ERO, Hakeem Adikum, while announcing the winner, at INEC office located along Port Harcourt Road in Owerri, did not name the candidate of APC, that won the election.

He only announced that, APC won the by-election by polling 36,811 votes while the PDP candidate, Emmanuel Okewulonu, got 31,903 votes.

While the results showed that APC, won five local government areas out six, which included Ehime Mbano, Onuimo, Ihitte Uboama, Obowo, Isiala Mbano, the PDP, won only in Obowo local government area.

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Shedding light on why a candidate was not announced, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Francis Ezeonu, relied on what he described as, several court orders for and against Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and Frank Ibeziem, both of who are laying claim to the APC candidature.

Whereas an Appeal court sitting in Owerri, authenticated the candidature of Frank Ibeziem, another federal high in Abuja, reportedly disqualified him, on the grounds of certificate forgery.

At this point, tension is growing in both camps of Ararume and Ibeziem, as they beseech INEC office to know whose name is in the list to be favoured as the next Imo North senator.