Hundreds of hoodlums suspected to be hired by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Monday went on rampage in Owerri, the Imo State capital, attacking supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and damaging vehicles and other property.
The thugs who took over major streets in the capital city, forced passersby and commuters to chant anti-Okorocha slogan and those who failed to comply or found with Okorocha’s campaign insignia were severely beaten up.
At the headquaters of the Rochas Campaign Organization, the rampaging hoodlums attacked everyone at sight and destroyed APC campaign buses and billboards after they failed to gain entrance into the premises.
They also demanded the cancellation of the governorship election over alleged irregularities while displaying placards with various inscriptions such as ‘Ihedioha is our man’, ‘Rochas must go’, ‘we don’t want APC in Imo’, ‘say no to Moslem party’, among others.
However when contacted, the Director of Media of the Ihedioha Campaign Organisation, Barr. Enyinna Onuegbu, said the youths were sympathisers of the PDP who were protesting the electoral fraud committed by the Governor and not sponsored by the PDP as alleged.
According to him, “the youths were protesting the massive rigging of the governorship election and they were not sponsored by the PDP. They want INEC to declare Ihedioha the winner of the election
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Enwerem, said that the Police has advised the youths across all the political parties to remain calm until INEC declares the final result of the election.
When contacted over the development, the Director General of the Rochas Campaign Organisation, Barr. Iheukwumere Alaribe, said the PDP sponsored youths were protesting the failure of INEC to comply with their agreement to rig the election in their favour.
