THE declaration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha as Governor-elect of Imo State yesterday sent the residents into wide jubilation.

And in the spirit of a new dawn in Nigeria’s political terrain, incumbent Governor Ikedi Ohakim congratulated Okorocha last night.

He said he would not contest the results of the election at the tribunal nor would he allow Okorocha pass through the same distraction that he (Ohakim) experienced during his tenure in office.

And from Abuja came a congratulatory message from President Goodluck Jonathan to Okorocha for winning the Imo gubernatorial election.

In a statement released by the presidential spokesman, Ima Niboro, Jonathan said that “the people of Imo State have spoken through the ballot box, and it is time to forge ahead in the task of further developing the State.”

The President assured the Governor-elect of the Federal Government cooperation in the task ahead, and invited Okorocha to build on the achievements of the outgoing administration.

He also congratulated the Independent National Electoral Commission for successfully concluding the Imo State elections, noting that Nigerians appreciated the efforts of the electoral body to give the country credible elections.

Also, Governor Peter Obi has congratulated Okorocha, saying that APGA’s victory in the keenly contested polls in Imo had far-reaching implications for the Southeast.

Not even the heavy military presence in the state could deter many youths from celebrating the APGA victory yesterday. Some of them went “on rampage” in major streets of Owerri and environs.

Specifically, there were spontaneous celebrations in the three geopolitical zones of the state — Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri.

Some of the jubilant people, who spoke to The Guardian, thanked God for allowing their choice candidate to prevail after several days of uncertainty.

One Edoga spoke as if he was the INEC returning officer, stressing, “that the winner of the election (Okorocha) fulfilled all the electoral requirements and thereby was declared elected and returned.”

Indeed, Okorocha, who attributed his victory to God, and pledged to “improve the lot of the masses that have, over the years, suffered deprivation and misrule,” polled a total of 336,859 votes to clinch the coveted position.

He beat his closest rival and incumbent Governor Ikedi Ohakim of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 290,496 votes while Senator Ifeanyi Ararume of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had 107,068 votes to come in third position.

Others scores were the ANPP 1,678 votes; APS, 364; ANP, 3,313; BNPP, 334; CDC, 447; CPC, 3,063; DFDF, 163; DPP, 563; FPN, 101; FRESH, 122; Labour, 1, 549; NTP, 790; PPA, 1,698, PRP, 295; and SDMP, 1,103 votes.

With the exception of Oguta Local Government Council, where election could not hold due to disagreement between PDP and APGA supporters, Okorocha showed impressive performance, scoring more than 25 per cent of the total votes cast in more than two-thirds of the 26 local government councils.

The Vice Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, Prof. Hilary Edoga, was INEC’s Returning Officer for the supplementary election.

Four Resident Electoral Commissioners and four National Commissioners flanked him when the results were declared to an expectant crowd of party agents, journalists and party supporters.

The declaration was witnessed by APGA’s National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh; the Deputy Chairman, Southeast, Mr. Chris Uche; APGA’s candidate at the 2007 governorship elections in the state, Chief Martin Agbaso; and the State Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, among others.

Edoga, in conjunction with the Supervisory Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state (SREC), Aniedi Ikowaik, cancelled Oguta Local Council polls because the electorate made it difficult to conduct elections in the area on Friday, alleging late arrival of materials to the state.

Supervising REC Ikowaik had told journalists and party agents that the report from the returning officer of Oguta spoke for itself (on the issues that took place in the area), necessitating the cancellation of poll in the council.

Meanwhile, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State while congratulating Okorocha, said that APGA’s victory in the keenly contested polls in Imo had far-reaching implications for the Southeast.

The governor’s statement, made available to The Guardian by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Mike Udah, described Okorocha’s victory as a welcome development for the Igbo.

“What has happened in Imo State,” the governor said, “is a welcome development for Ndigbo.”

“With the victory of APGA there (Imo), the difficult journey for reclaiming Igbo political identity has just begun. To God be the Glory!”

Obi, till date the only APGA governor in the country, said: “Today, is a new dawn for APGA, which represents the Igbo man’s political consciousness.

“In the past, there was a connivance to stifle the development of that consciousness. But with this victory, the shackles are now being shaken off,

“While I congratulate my brother, Rochas Okorocha, I thank APGA in Anambra State and throughout the country.

“From zero, we have secured over 60 per cent of available political posts in the just-concluded elections in Anambra State.

“I look forward to seeing Ndigbo work together for the good of our people; and that, for me, is the significance of Okorocha’s victory.”

In his reaction, both the national chairman of the APGA, Victor Umeh and Agbaso, expressed confidence in the electorate, stating that the Governor-elect, Okorocha, would maintain his “welfarist stand as a philanthropist.”

The 70 observers that were re accredited to monitor the polls, led by Mr. Emmanuel Nkweke, a.k.a. Mr. Vote Count, said they were satisfied by the election’s outcome, adding that the “winner did not induce but his choice was a clear manifestation of people’s votes.”

The group also endorsed the cancellation of Oguta local council, noting that the reasons were acceptable.

However, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Blydeen Amajirionwu, told The Guardian that the party would come with its position, as soon as it finished meeting.

Results declared in the three councils and Orji ward indicated that in Owerri North, APGA won by scoring 22,723 votes; PDP, 8,025 and ACN, 2,834. Ohaji/Egbema: APGA, 15,234 votes; PDP, 11,588, and ACN, 60.

Ngor Okpala: APGA, 17,370 votes; PDP, 9,237 and ACN, 411; and Mbaitoli: APGA, 24,305 votes; PDP, 12,278 and ACN, 93 votes.

Source: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47250:celebration-in-imo&catid=1:national&Itemid=559