Imo House of Assembly re-run election: APGA, PDP on warpath

The Imo State House of Assembly re-run election slated for today between Chief   Eugene Dibiagwu, the candidate of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr. Walter Uzonwanne of the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), is seen as battle of supremacy between the two parties fully mobilised to out do each other.

Already there is palpable tension in the entire Oguta local government as there has been accusation and counter accusation by the chieftains of both PDP and APGA over the importation of thugs and stockpiling of arms ostensibly to rig the election.

Former chairman of Oguta council area, Chief Emmanuel Mazi, alleged that APGA led government has imported armed thugs from both Umuleri and Aguleri in the guise of members of the Imo State Security Network with the sole purpose of causing mayhem on election day.

The former council boss further stated that the people of Oguta are already behind Chief Dibiagwu and that no amount of threats from the state government would make the people to shift their support to Walter Uzonwanne, who is being sponsored by governor Okorocha.

“The Oguta people are solidly behind the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party and will never vote for the candidate of Okorocha and no amount of intimidation from the government would make us change our mind. Since Okorocha became governor in 2011 the people of Oguta have not benefitted from his government, he even impounded the 40   percent allocation meant to the oil producing communities in Oguta, which previous governments paid to the communities and as I speak, there are no projects sited in the area. So, the only way to avoid crisis is for the governor to allow the people to make their choice of who is to represent them at the state House of Assembly”.

However, Eugene Dibiagwu the PDP candidate   has called on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all security agencies in the state not to compromise their positions by installing all necessary machinery   that would guarantee free and fair election today.

Boasting   that he was sure of victory if the election is devoid of all forms of malpractices, the business mogul turned politician described the impending re-run election   as litmus test for both the INEC and the security agencies saddled with the responsibility of conducting the exercise, pleading that all perceived loopholes and avenues allegedly planed by rival political parities to import   mercenaries should be thoroughly blocked.