The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has indefinitely suspended guber election results collation in Abia and Enugu States.
Dailygists reported how some thugs who accompanied the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, to a collation centre in Obingwa LGA created panic in INEC officials and observers while insisting that the results of the election be announced in that local government before they proceeded to the INEC State collation centre in Umuahia.
Reportedly, the thugs tried forcing the electoral officials to declare the results in favour of their preferred candidate (candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP).
Speaking on the matter on Monday, Festus Okoye, INEC’s Commissioner for Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed that collation of results of the local government had been suspended indefinitely.
He added that the electoral body similarly decided to suspend results collation in two outstanding local governments in Enugu state indefinitely.
The commission said that a review would be carried out prior to concluding the process.
According to him: “It will be recalled that our office in Obingwa Local Government Area was invaded by thugs yesterday Sunday 19th March 2023 and our officials held hostage in relation to the collation of results from the Local Government Area. Similarly, reports from Enugu State call for a review of the results for the Governorship election from the two outstanding Local Government Areas of Nsukka and Nkanu East.
“Consequently, the Commission hereby suspends the collation of results in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State and the two outstanding Local Government Areas of Enugu State which are yet to be collated. A review will be undertaken immediately before the process is concluded.
“We appeal for the understanding and patience of voters, parties and candidates in the affected States.”
