The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) achieved a decisive victory in Imo State’s Local Government elections held on Saturday, sweeping all 305 Councillorship and 27 Chairmanship seats across the state’s 27 Local Government Areas.
The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) made the official announcement of the results on Sunday at its headquarters in Owerri.
ISIEC Chairman, Charles Ejiogu, confirmed the APC’s dominance in the elections but refrained from providing specific vote counts for the participating parties. He assured the public that comprehensive results from the 305 electoral wards and 4,758 polling units would be made available soon.
Ejiogu also expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the elections, commending the political parties and stakeholders for maintaining decorum throughout the process.
A list of the newly elected Chairmen for each Local Government Area (LGA) was provided as follows:- Ngor-Okpala – Chika Ibekwe, Owerri West – Victor Osigwe, Ehime Mbano – Chief Uche Nwodu, Aboh Mbaise – Iheukwumere Alaribe Henry, Onimo – Emeka Paul Obi, Owerri Municipal – Chidiebere Emereibe, Ezinihitte Mbaise – Chinedum Nwachukwu, Owerri North – Lucky Abaraonye, Oru West – Ikenna Adikibe, Njaba – Vitalis Ugo ObiIkeduru – Justice Nzeh, Mbaitoli – Ifunanya Nwanegwo, Nwangele – Paul Duru, Oguta – Ifeanyi Nani, Orlu – Chris Mbarie, Osu – Friday IbakaemeIsu – Kenneth Uka, Nkwere – Emmanuel C., Ideato South – Okechukwu Okwara, Oru East – Nnamdi Okwaraigwe, Ohaji/Egbema – Marcellinus Amadioha, Ideato North – Chukwunonso Okwaraeke, Obowo – Obioma Johnson, Isiala Mbano – Chika Okoroike, Ahiazu Mbaise – Larry Obinna Chikwe, Okigwe – Nkechi Mbonu, Ihitte Uboma – Obioha Ndukwe
Ejiogu emphasized that more detailed election results would be published in due time, while also acknowledging that 19 registered political parties participated in the elections.
Despite the APC’s comprehensive win, the elections were characterized by widespread voter apathy, with reports suggesting that voting did not take place in several local government areas. This was largely attributed to the Inter-Party Advisory Council’s decision to boycott the elections earlier in the week.
Iheukwumere Alaribe, the newly elected Chairman of Aboh Mbaise LGA, pledged to lead with transparency and inclusivity, highlighting his commitment to governance guided by the fear of God.
ISIEC called on any aggrieved parties to follow legal channels if they wished to challenge the election results. The low voter turnout and the boycott by opposition parties have raised concerns about the broader political landscape in Imo State, with many awaiting further developments in the aftermath of the elections.
