By Chidi Nkwopara

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will tomorrow, conduct the outstanding polls in Imo State, in according with courts’ orders.

The most prominent among the re-run polls is the Imo North senatorial election between the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Athan Achonu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Benjamin Uwajumogu.

There are also re-run elections for the Isiala Mbano, Owerri West and Oru East state constituencies. The major contenders are APC and PDP.

The Imo North senatorial election, which Achonu of the PDP clearly won, would not have been an issue, but for the fact that INEC omitted the logo of Accord Party, AP, in the ballot paper. The party’s candidate, Mrs. Rita Ibemere, approached the election tribunal and the entire proceedings, leading to the announcement of the election result were quashed.

Is INEC right in fixing polls without court backing on extension?

*Imo state Governor, Okorocha

A major thorny issue is whether INEC is right in fixing the re-run elections when the approved 90 days from the date of determining the matters by the tribunals had lapsed.

Some lawyers interviewed in Owerri were of the view that INEC cannot unilaterally fix any date without necessarily getting order of court to extend the time.

However, the major candidates are back to the trenches. While Uwajumogu appears to be banking on the incumbency of the APC government in the state, Achonu is relying on the goodwill of the people and the mistakes of the Governor Rochas Okorocha-led administration.

A PDP chieftain in Onuimo local council area, Chief Vincent Okpalaeke, described the re-run election as “an avenue for the people of Okigwe senatorial zone to re-affirm their trust and love for Senator Achonu”, adding that the man is not only an achiever, but is also capable of getting whatever is due to the zone.

APC leaders storm Imo

As of the last check, APC leaders from some parts of the country have emptied into the state to help beef up the chances of the party in the Okigwe senatorial re-run election.

The story that made the rounds, yesterday, was that the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, is expected to lead members of the National Executive Committee, NEC, the National Working Committee, NWC and other party leaders to Okigwe.

Confirming the development when he spoke to journalists at his Umuihi, Ihitte Uboma local government area country home, the APC candidate said “they are coming for a super rally, which holds Thursday, at Ehime Mbano local government area”.

Answering another question, Uwajumogu was optimistic that he would win the re-run election, despite all odds, even as he called for a free and fair poll.

Okorocha suspends govt functions

Meanwhile, Governor Rochas Okorocha has suspended all government functions or activities programmed for the week because of the INEC scheduled re-run election for Okigwe senatorial zone and two other state constituencies.

According to a release signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, normal government activities would begin next Monday, July 25, 2016.

The governor gave the directive at a meeting of all government and party functionaries and selected political leaders last Monday, July 18, 2016 and directed political appointees, especially the commissioners to stop work till Monday, July 25, 2016.

The governor also advised APC leaders to insist on free and fair elections, stressing that the security agencies have also been told to ensure that people’s votes count.

Okorocha asked those planning to rig the elections to drop the plan because rigging has become the old-fashioned method of getting victory in an election.

“The re-run poll for Okigwe zone is a task for every patriotic Ndi Igbo in general and Imo and Okigwe people in particular because of the good things that will emanate from the victory of the APC candidate, Benjamin Uwajumogu”, Okorocha said.

Similarly, the Imo State Police Command said it would work in synergy with other security agencies in the state and warned all political parties, their agents and supporters to conduct themselves in accordance with the Electoral Act and guidelines, so as to ensure orderly and violence-free polls in the affected areas.

Police read riot act

The Police, in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, enjoined party leaders to ensure that their candidates and supporters desist from fomenting violence and have a rethink over the use of political thugs before, during and after elections.

“The INEC, security agencies, party leaders as well as candidates contesting the election have held series of meetings on issues bordering the election. The Police Command has received added instructions, human and material support from the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, to enable ensure the success of the election. More so, there will be serious dominance of Police, working in synergy with other security agencies to guarantee a violent-free election.

“Political parties are warned to make their campaigns issue based and avoid the use of abusive or inflammatory languages during the period. In line with our renewed strategies to ensure a free, fair, credible and violence-free election, the Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Taiwo Lakanu, has decided to shift his office temporarily to Area Command Headquarters Okigwe for a smooth, transparent and credible election devoid of thuggery, malpractice and violence”, the PPRO said.

The Police and other security agencies in the State have resolved as follows: No protest, demonstration or procession shall be tolerated on the day preceding and, or on the day of the election.

‘’ No security outfit should be seen around the polling centres during the election except those officially deployed for election duties and they include the Police, Directorate of Security Service, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, NSCDC, Customs, Immigration, Prisons, FRSC and NDLEA. Any other security outfit seen within the polling or collation centres will be arrested and prosecuted.

‘’ No politician or Government official whether contesting or not shall be allowed to be accompanied by any security official such as orderly or escorts to the voting and collation centres.

Unauthorized vehicle(s) found blaring siren shall be impounded. Voters will not be allowed to loiter around the voting centres after casting their vote but would be allowed to stay peacefully within300 meters away from the voting centres if they so wish.

‘’ Only Security agencies, INEC Officials, certified political party agents and accredited observers would be allowed around the collation centres.

‘’ There shall be restriction of vehicular movement within the areas where election will be held as from 0600 hours to 1800 hours on the election day.

‘’ In the light of the foregoing, we shall activate all proactive measures in crime prevention and detection, to achieve a successful and laudable election. The Police Command wishes to assure essential service providers, such as hospitals/clinic staff, PHCN, Media houses etc, that their safety is guaranteed while carrying out their lawful duties.

The Command will do everything within its statutory powers to guarantee security of lives and property of citizens in the state before, during and after the elections.’’