The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has declared Jerry Alagboso of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP winner of last Saturday’s re-run election in Oru East l, Orsu and Orlu Federal Constituency of Imo State.
The new Returning Officer for the election, Emma Anakwuba said Alagboso polled a total of 22,475 votes to defeat his closest rival Edwin Iheanacho of the All Progressives Congress, APC who scored 20,814 votes.
Anakwuba said the PDP candidate having scored the highest number of valid votes cast was returned elected.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Francis Ezeonu regretted that hoodlums disrupted collation of results at Orlu on Saturday night thereby making the Commission to suspend the exercise.
It will be recalled that the returning officer before the disruption of collation, Professor Greg Obiamalu had said the election was declared inconclusive due to the violence.
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The INEC State Office said violence erupted at the collation centre when some unknown gunmen gained access into the hall and carted away all the electoral materials including all the ballot papers and result sheet.
Thugs have invaded the collation centre when INEC was yet to collate or announce results in the re-run election more than 24 hours after voting had ended.
No reason has been given or an official statement issued on the change of returning officer in the Orlu/Orsu/Oru East Federal Constituency re-run election