The Federal House of Representatives Candidate for Labour party Hon. Uche Ogbuagu has lamented over gross misconduct, Electoral fraud and intimidation that marred the last presidential and National Assembly elections held on 25th February 2023 in the constituency which led to the declaration of the election as Inconclusive by INEC.
Addressing newsmen in his Akabo Country home, Ogbuagu, disclosed that in spite of the electoral malpractice that took place during the election, he still leads with over 17, 000 votes, while the next person got less than 12,000 votes, he noted that the election was declared inconclusive since voting did not take place in some booths while some were cancelled because of irregularities and violence.
The Labour party Candidate therefore Called on INEC and the security agencies to ensure a free and fair elections during the forthcoming rerun election that will be conducted in over 38 poling units across Ikeduru/Mbaitolu Federal constituency comes up on March 11 alongside the House of Assembly elections.
Ogbuagu raises concern over the intimidation by yet to be Identified Security men and other elements that were used to intimidate and coarse people into voting for an APC Candidate who is bent on winning the election by all means without letting the people’s choice to prevail.
Ogbuagu revealed of a particular ward in Ikeduru where the number of registered voters was 1382 as copied by INEC Portal but discovered the figure was falsified to 10,382 which the Electoral officer confirmed as a mistake.
Ogbuagu confirmed to newsmen that some of the electorate in the constituency were beaten up and assaulted in the full glare of the masses.
He therefore forewarned against further irregularities in the rerun and urged the people from the constituency to still come out enmasse to exercise their franchise without fear of further intimidation.
Ogbuagu affirmed of his readiness to participate in the election while reeling out some of his achievements as a Lawmaker representing Ikeduru at the Imo state House of Assembly.
Ogbuagu maintained that he remains the Candidate to go into the 10th Assembly having over 68 verifiable people oriented projects and several bills and motions credited to him .
As the rerun elections comes up, he therefore calls for investigation into the identity and the genuineness
of some armed men and the posting of over 25 armed officers assigned to an Individual in the constituency which uses same to harass and intimate the masses.
He also called for some check by the security agencies in the State to forestall plans made ahead to frustrate and rig the election in favour of APC.
