Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ With just two weeks until the main elections on September 21, the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is gripped by tension. Candidates and party members anxiously await the official release of the results from the party’s primary elections, conducted on September 3 across various Local Government Areas (LGAs) and wards in the state.
The anxiety has only deepened as purported results from the primaries have begun circulating widely on social media, listing supposed winners. This development has caused confusion and unease among party members. Despite the state party leadership’s earlier warning to disregard any unofficial results and to wait for the official announcement, the situation remains fraught with uncertainty.
According to the Daily Post, many aspirants are growing increasingly frustrated with the delay in the official results, especially considering the primaries were conducted over five days ago. One chairmanship aspirant, who preferred to remain anonymous for political reasons, expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the situation by the party leadership. He noted that while awaiting the official results, some aspirants have already begun celebrating, based on the information circulating on social media.
Hyginus Onumajuru, a loyal party member, pointed out that the lists circulating on social media have become a cause for concern. He emphasized that the delay, now nearly a week, is unacceptable and raises questions about the transparency and control of the process by the state leadership.
“The fact that the results haven’t been released after five days suggests the party leadership might not be in control,” Onumajuru stated. “If they were, there wouldn’t be such a delay. The mixed messages from various sources are causing panic among aspirants who are eagerly waiting for an official announcement. Simply dismissing the rumors is not enough—there must be clarity and transparency.”
He further criticized the party leadership for their handling of candidates who have invested significant time and resources in campaigning and mobilizing their supporters, only to be left in limbo by the delay.
Adding to the confusion, a local newspaper reported that the list of candidates for the September 21 elections has already been submitted to the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC). According to social media sources, 12 names from Ohaji/Egbema LGA have emerged as candidates for councilor positions, while another list reportedly includes the names of over 22 current sole administrators. Some aspirants have already received congratulatory messages from supporters based on these unofficial lists.
As of now, the party leadership, aside from a statement released by Julian Chijioke, the media aide to State Party Chairman Macdonald Ebere, has not provided any further official communication regarding the primary results. With the elections only two weeks away, there is still no clear indication of serious political activity from various parties, leaving the people of Imo State in anticipation as they await the September 21 polls.
The delay in releasing the results has generated significant tension and speculation, highlighting the need for transparency and prompt communication to maintain the integrity of the electoral process and ensure fairness for all candidates involved.
