The Spokesman of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and People’s Democratic Party candidate for Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, Imo state, Ikenga Ugochinyere, has been declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.
Ugochinyere polled in a total of 13,026 votes to beat his closest rivals – Chika Abazu of All Progressives Congress (APC) with 2368 and Labour Party’s Hon Pascal Obi who scored 5696 votes.
In a statement made available to Blueprint correspondent Ugochinyere described his victory “as a thing of joy to his constituents and a shock and disgrace to the APC governor Hope Uzodimma led Imo state who tried everything to stop his victory.
“This threat was eventually carried out in January by the state backed militia who attacked Ugochinyere’s home in Akokwa killing his uncle, three other bystanders and burnt his house and campaign vehicle. Barely three weeks later another attack was carried out on his house by agents working for the state government.
“The attacks and intimidation got so bad that that All Progressive Congress, APC led state was clamping down on members of opposition parties, particularly the PDP seizing their campaign materials.
“They seized voter education and campaign materials belonging to CUPP Spokesman and also detained and tortured those in possession of the materials for six days without charging them to Court or releasing them.
“All these politically motivated attacks on Ugochinyere was because of his revelation of the voter fraud last year.
“However despite everything, Ugochinyere with the overwhelming support of his constituents surged ahead with his campaigns.”
Ugochinyere in a swift reaction thanked God for his victory, and dedicated it to his late Uncle Daniel Ikeagwuonu and two others who were murdered on January 14 in his Akokwa country home.
He described his victory, as one not only for him but PDP family and his Constituents.
He thanked the people of Ideato and all Nigerians for their solidarity, adding that unknown to so many he won despite the machinations of state deployed to stop him by all means.
