Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

Thousands of Imo women from the 305 wards in the state on Friday staged a peaceful protest, demanding the arrest of senator Osita Izunaso, Ifeayin Araraume and other members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) coalition alleged to have been involved in the disappearance of sensitive materials meant for the ward congress election in the state.

The women who were singing and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Ini  Okori, Izunaso, Arararaume, TOE Ekechi must be arrested for disrupting Imo ward congress”, among others, blamed the APC chieftains for allegedly truncating the congresses in the state.

Spokesperson of the women, Lady Ugochi Nnana Okoro, a woman leader from Owerri west council, who had earlier led the women to the Victory Chapel at the Government House for an intercessory prayer for justice and violent free election in the state, commended Governor Okorocha for preventing a near anarchy that would have caused loss of lives during the botched congress elections.

According to Okoro, “Imo women would no longer tolerate hijacking of electoral materials and violence in subsequent elections. Appropriate sanctions should be meted to any person or group who may indulge in disruption of future elections.”

She equally stated that the women demand a fresh date for a new congress election in the state that will be devoid of manipulation and violence.

The women also marched down to the state police headquarters where they also lodged their grievances. They implored the newly transferred Commission of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi, to bring all the culprits involved in the botched congress to justice.

Similarly, the women registered their complaints at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, imploring the Commission to assist in ensuring a free and fair election in the state.