* accuse Okorocha, INEC of fraud
Several women on Wednesday took to the streets of Owerri, in Imo state, to protest alleged misconduct by the military and other security agencies during last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly election.
The women, adorned in black, stormed the Headquarters of the 34 Field Artillery Brigade, Obinze, calling on the Army’s high command to investigate alleged soldiers’ misconduct at polling booths across the state and cautioned the military to stay away from politics.
Led by Mrs. Uju Ihejiagwa and Barr. Nwando Anyasinti, the women presented a petition to the representative of the Brigade’s Commanding Officer (CO).
They lamented over what they described as day-light robbery of people of the state, describing the announcement of Governor Rochas Okorocha as Senator-elect for Orlu zone as fraudulent.
“Governor Rochas Okorocha committed electoral fraud by using military Force, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and thugs to intimidate, harass and maim unsuspecting and unprotected Imo voters.
“He connived with some staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to subvert the wish of the masses, by manipulating the outcome of the election and ensuring the announcement of fake results.”
“We also protest the brutal assassination of two of our sons, killed at Ejemekwuru in Oguta LGA, during the governor’s campaign rally in the area.
“The Governor used security agencies to harass, intimidate and rig the elections in the February 23rd election. Collation agents were intimidated and molested. Electoral materials were stolen and fake results written, submitted and announced, with the aid of INEC.
“We hereby request that the Military and other security agents desist from being used to rig elections anymore in Imo state.
“We call on the Brigade Commander of 34 Field Artillery Brigade, Obinze to warn and caution his boys to desist from getting involved in electoral fraud.
“We also call on the Imo State Commissioner of Police to give same orientation to his men in the Police Force to stay off actions that aid electoral fraud and subversion of the people’s wish,” they stated in their petition.
The protesters also stormed the Imo State headquarters of the INEC, where they warned the commission to desist from aiding electoral fraud in the state, and called on the commission to restore the people’s mandate.
In his remarks, while receiving the protesters, the Head of Voter Education of the INEC in Imo state, Mr. Sunday Adedoyin assured them that the Commission will look into the issues raised, with a view to ensuring that necessary steps are taken to forestall future occurrences.
The protesting women also marched to the Imo State Police Headquarters, Headquarters of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps in the state, as well as the Department of State Services, where they also delivered the same petition.
The protesters consist of over ten thousand women drawn from the twelve Local Government Areas that make up Orlu Senatorial zone of the state, it was gathered.
It would be recalled that the Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha was declared winner of the February 23rd National Assembly election to represent Orlu zone at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
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