Okezie Ikpeazu, the Executive Governor of Abia state, has reportedly stormed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s election collation centre in Obingwa LGA of the state in an attempt to disrupt results collation for the local government election held yesterday.
The Governor accompanied by some of his supporters, including the commissioner of police in the state stormed the collation centre in a manner that created panic on both the election observers and INEC officials.
The action by Ikpeazu followed a reported directive by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the National Chairman of the electoral umpire, for the results collation centre to be moved to the state collation office located in Umuahia.
The directive by Yakubu was apparently as a result of alleged plot to rig the state election.
After the order by INEC boss for the collation to be carried out in the presence of the returning officer of the state, the Governor stormed the centre.
Some of the thugs that accompanied him to the centre remained there after the Governor left, insisting that the results of the election in the LGA be announced before their relocation to Umuahia as directed by INEC Chairman.
INEC officials, election observers, and newsmen were refused entry and exit from the centre by the thugs.
The development created tension in the centre with all the officials present very scared.
Earlier, the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, Alex Otti had lamented plots between some INEC officials and the state Governor to change results of about four LGAs in the state.
