The candidate of the Labour Party in last Saturday’s contentious governorship election in Imo State, Sen. Athan Nneji Achonu, has dismissed a story on social media, supporting a visit to Governor Hope Uzodinma, who was declared winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
A rebuttal by the Achonu media team director, Chibuikem Diala read, “It has come to the knowledge of Senator Athan Achonu’s Campaign Organisation that Governor Hope Uzodinma and his supporters are not yet done with their mischief.
“After foisting the worst electoral heist on Imo State, the governor and his bootlickers are spreading fake news purporting that his opponents in last Saturday’s election had paid him a congratulatory visit.
“According to the childish and very poorly written story that has gone viral with an obviously old photograph: ‘Other Guber Candidates Gather to congratulate His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma for his marvelous wining at the Polls and the pledge not to go to court and the move is admired by his excellency former Governor of Imo State Chief Sir Ikedi Ohakim. Imo is 3R secured.’
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“This is nothing but a script from the pit of hell and could only be the handwork of evil minds, which this government is well known for.”
The statement denied that such a meeting held and that Achonu is forging ahead with his rejection of the result.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Achonu had since categorically rejected the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and called for its review and cancellation,” it further said.
“He had also held a joint press briefing with Samuel Anyanwu (SamDaddy), the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and and insisted that the result of the Saturday governorship election must be reviewed or cancelled, warning that unless the INEC did so, the people might revolt.”
Addressing the joint press conference in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the PDP and LP candidates declared their rejection of the result, giving INEC seven days to review the results, and or cancel it.
The duo cited malpractices, including mass rigging, hijacking and diversion of electoral materials, voter oppression, connivance of security agencies in riging the election, etc.
“It is inconceivable, therefore, that they could be part of a congratulatory visit to Uzodinma, wishful thinking that can never happen,” the statement added.
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“Senator Achonu has stated that he still has faith in the country’s judiciary and announced that if INEC does not review, the results, he is proceeding to court to challenge the spurious result.
“We wish to reiterate that Senator Athan Achonu is not moved by the declared result or the contrived visit, as his eyes are focussed on the ball, and shall retrieve the people’s mandate.
“Senator Athan Achonu is known for truth, equity and justice, freedom of choice and equal opportunities, hence he will not congratulate this travesty of an electoral process, nor elevate this mockery of democracy perpetrated by a band of politicians and their known lackeys whose stock in trade is to pauparise the people for selfish political gains.
“We urge members of the public to ignore the purported congratulations, as it is yet another move by the unpopular ‘caretaker government’ of Uzodinma, which will relinquish power to the rightful owner after January 20, 2024, and after the court process.”
