I’ll congratulate winner if I lose – Okorocha

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said he is ready to congratulate whoever emerges the winner of the governorship election in the state, if he loses the poll.

He stated this in an interview with journalists minutes after casting his at Ogboko Ward 2 in Ideato South Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.

“I will congratulate whoever wins the election. Why not? But, first, let us do things properly,” Okorocha said.

The governor, who said the card reader failed to capture his fingerprints during the accreditation process in his ward, commended the Independent National  Electoral Commission in the state for the smooth conduct of the election.

He said, “So far, the election is quite peaceful, especially in Ogboko Ward 2, where I voted. As we would expect, this is a violence-free area in the history of Imo State politics. There has never been any record of violence here. But this cannot be said about places that are notorious for election violence, such as Mbutu in Aboh-Mbaise LGA.

“I have heard about political thugs hired by some politicians to cause mayhem in some polling units. The same thing is going on at places like Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta, Ezinihite and Ngo-Okpala, to mention a few. We must condemn election violence in all ramifications.”

The governor called for a judicial panel to look into the causes of election crises in some parts of Imo State.

Also, commending the security agencies for their role in the governorship and state House of Assembly elections, he said, “I learnt that some people in fake military and police uniforms, as well as a man found with AK47 rifles, were arrested by security men.

“If such things had happened during last presidential and National Assembly elections, things would have been much better.”