I was ‘forced’ to declare Okorocha winner of Imo West Senatorial District – Returning Officer

The returning officer for Imo West Senatorial District, I.I. Ibeabuchi has said that he was “forced” to declare Imo state governor Rochas Okorocha winner of the Imo West Senatorial election.

Ibeabuchi said he stopped the collation after announcing nine out of the 12 local governments in the district, saying he had been directed to “return to Owerri, the state capital.”

According to Premium Times, the electoral official claimed he was held up at the collation centre by supporters of Okorocha who insisted he must complete the announcement.

Okorocha, the candidate of the APC, had won eight out of the nine already collated local governments.

On Monday morning, however, the returning officer finally yielded and announced the three remaining results.

The governor won two but lost one of the last three areas.

By this result, the governor won 10 of the total 12 LGAs, making him the ‘winner’ of the elections.

Journalists and observers were initially chased out of the centre, according to the report.