Imo residents have hailed the victory of the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Emeka Ihedioha, at the just-concluded governorship elections in the state, urging him to justify the people’s support by putting their needs first
Mr Ihedioha, candidate of the PDP in the March 9 governorship polls in Imo, was declared winner of the election by Francis Otonta, Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on March 12 at the collation centre in Owerri.
Mr Ihedioha, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, won in 11 of the 27 Local Government Areas, LGAs, polling a total 273,404 votes to defeat his closest contender, Mr Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance, AA, who won in 10 LGAs and scored 190,364 votes.
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Other participants in the 70-man Imo gubernatorial contest include Mr Ifeanyi Araraume of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), a former senator who had 114,676 votes, winning in four LGAs.
APC’s Hope Uzodinma, a serving Senator representing Imo West Senatorial district, garnered 96,458 votes and won in two LGAs to take the fourth position.
A former governor of Imo, Ikedi Ohakim of the Accord Party, who polled 6,846 votes to trail alongside others, did not win in any of the council areas.
A total of 739,474 votes were cast with 25,130 of the votes rejected while 714,344 valid.
The residents celebrating the victory by pulling down campaign paraphernalia of Nwosu, the runner up.
A 33-year-old trader, Ihuoma Chieke, urged the governor-elect to ensure he fulfilled his campaign promises, especially those affecting the women and youth of the state.
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Rose Agomuo, a pensioner, told the News Agncy of Nigeria that she was delighted with the outcome of the elections.
According to her, Mr Ihedioha should remember that he has been elected to serve the people and not to see the position as an avenue to amass wealth or become a tyrant.
Mrs Agomuo urged Ihedioha to pay attention to payment of pensions, fixing of drains and roads, putting in place better health, education and transportation systems and generally, making Imo more habitable for residents.
Similarly, Charles Nwaehujor, a teacher, said that Ihedioha’s victory was a welcome development because of his political experience.
According to Nwaehujor, Ihedioha as a career politician, is better equipped to handle the “political intricacies of the state”.
He urged him not to toe the line of his predecessors who disappointed people of the state as soon as they were elected into office.
Paul Iwuh, a civil servant, described his victory as equitable, while noting that any other outcome would have been unfair to Owerri zone and its people.
Iwuh commended the electorate for voting their choice and doing all they could to ensure they were not shortchanged.
Another civil servant, Emeka Eze, commended INEC for ensuring the true results of the election were announced and for frustrating attempts at rigging the elections.
NAN reports that Ihedioha an experienced politician and investor was born on March 24, 1965.
He had at different times represented the Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, Imo, and was also the former Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives.
NAN
