CYMS Adjudge Okigwe North House Of Representatives Bye- election Free And Fair


The Committee Of Youth On Mobilization and Sensitization (CYMS) has yesterday adjudged the Okigwe North Federal Constituency bye -election in Imo state as free, fair and credible.

This was contained in a post election statement issued by the Director General of the organization and the team leader of CYMS Election Observers team, Comrade Obinna Nwaka, adding that the election was conclusive and creditably with the international best practices.

Nwaka, the Okigwe North team leader of the domestic observers said they carefully observed the three electoral process inline with the INEC guideline, trained and deployed election observers in the three (3) LGAs that made up the Federal constituency which are Onuimo, Okigwe and Isiala Mbano LGA.

The CYMS observers team from Abuja arrived Imo on Tuesday, 21st January, 2020 which enabled the organization successful carried out its pre election activities where Electoral Stakeholders like INEC, Security agencies etc where engaged in a bid to ascertain the level of preparedness and to work in synergy in ensuring the electoral umpire, INEC discharge their duties as expected by the electorates.

The CYMS during the election observed low turnout in Okigwe and Onuimo but a very high turnout at Isiala Mbano LGA due to the fact that the two leading political parties candidate are from Isiala Mbano and other factors such as mobilization of voters.

The CYMS observed the security agents were civil and worked in a professional way in their discharged of their duty and prompt response in ensuring they protect both sensitive materials, the INEC officials at Isiala Mbano and the ADHOC Staff against political thugs, ballot box snatchers and desperate politicians.

The distribution of election materials, voting and other electoral assignments started earlier than even expected which led to the success of the process which the synergy of the various political party agents who ensured mobilization of supporters to the poll, however, the youth turn out was quite impressive which their conduct was also highly commendable as they supported in ensuring the election was free, fair and conclusive.

The CYMS did not record any situation of ballot box snatching, mutilation of result, electoral malpractice by INEC Staff nor ADHOC, vandalization, vote buying and inducement as the electorates were fully prepared for the election, though they agreed on one direction especially in Isiala Mbano LGA which led to ballot demonstration.

However, the CYMS as one of the organizations accredited by the INEC to observe the bye election observed that the election was only keenly contested and campaigned between PDP and APC as others were not noticed till after the conclusion where Princess Miriam Odinaka Onuoha of APC defeated her closest rival, Hon Obinna Ownubuariri of PDP with the total votes of 13,980 where the score polled by the political parties at the three (3) LGAs were Okigwe APC 6776 while PDP 3321, Onuimo APC 5756 while PDP 3026, in Isiala Mbano APC polled 11,156 while PDP got 3,363 making a total votes of 23, 690 against 9,710.

The CYMS in it's conclusion by Obinna Nwaka the team leader, commended his colleagues Comrade Kelechi Ugwumba Director, Contacts and Mobilization and David Owhegbe Director Security for coming down to participate, and applauded INEC for conducting the most peaceful election, the Media for unbiased reportage, the Security agents for securing the lives of electorates and ensuring a conducive environment.

He however commended Mr Slyvanus Chidinma Onyenagubo (Onwa) the Director General of Princess Onuoha Campaign Organsization (POCO) for his effective coordination of electorates which has in no less measure contributed to the victory of the APC in the re- run federal house of representatives election, while charging Princess Miriam Odinaka Onuoha the House of Representatives elect of Okigwe North not to see the victory as hers or party but the overall victory of the good people of Okigwe North as no person is a winner or loser.

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