Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Okigwe Constituency, in Imo State, Ifeanyi Ozoemelam, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to apologise to Nigerians for its failures in the just concluded general elections in the country, urging the electoral umpire to review results it declared against the mandate of the people.

Ozoemelam, who spoke to journalists, in Owerri, yesterday, stressed that activities of INEC undermined the determination and commitment of many Nigerians, especially youths, to recover and reposition the country.

He added that if the Commission does not redeem itself and strive to reclaim people’s confidence in the electoral process in the country, efforts to sustain peace, unity and progress in the country would remain a mirage.

He said: “The March 18 state Assembly election in Imo was a sham; the most rigged and most robbed state constituency elections in the history of democracy in Nigeria.

“It was a brazen display of impunity by INEC, which ought to be an unbiased umpire.

“For instance, where did INEC get 45,000 votes it used to declare the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate winner of Okigwe state Assembly election, whereas available facts and evidence show that only 2,491 voted during the exercise in the council?

“INEC messed Nigerians up and further put our collective desire and efforts for a better Nigeria under threat. Nigerians deserve explanations and unreserved apology from INEC for failing and dashing our hopes.”