Governor Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged victorious in 27 local government areas in the just-concluded election, with the collation completed at 08:30 am on Sunday.
The collation of results is currently taking place at the State Collation Centre in Owerri, the state capital.
The process commenced around 02:30 am on Sunday in Owerri, with the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof Abayomi Fashina, serving as the state Returning Officer for INEC in the election.
The APC, represented by Uzodimma, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with Samuel Anyanwu, and the Labour Party’s Achonu Nneji, were the primary contenders among the 18 parties fielding candidates in the election.
According to INEC, a total of 2,419,922 registered voters in the state for the poll, with 2,318,919 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected.
At the culmination of the collation at 08:30 am on Sunday, Fashina announced that the center would take an hour-long break and reconvene for the announcement of the winner.
Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Samuel Anyanwu, has called for the cancellation of the election.
At a press conference, He said INEC and security agents failed in their constitutional responsibility to deliver credible elections to the people of the state.
He said that instead, the security agents protected INEC staff as the APC members rewrote the results.
The deputy governorship candidate of the LP, Tony Nwulu, also said in a press conference on Saturday night that security agents allegedly provided cover for some persons as they subverted the will of the people.
