The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended further collation of the governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu states.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye, said this yesterday in Abuja.
Daily Trust reports that there has been tension in both states over the disruption of the collation process leading to political thugs invading INEC office in Obingwa LGA in Abia State on Sunday afternoon.
Okoye said, “The commission met today (yesterday) Monday 20th March 2023 and reviewed the conduct of the governorship and state assembly elections held nationwide on Saturday 18th March 2023.
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“Arising from the meeting, the commission took the decision to suspend forthwith further collation of the governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu states.”
He recalled that INEC office in Obingwa LGA was invaded by thugs on Sunday March 19, 2023 and its officials held hostage in relation to the collation of results from the LGA.
He said, “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.”
Similarly, INEC has fixed today for the supplementary elections in Kwande LGA of Benue State.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja.
Recall that the governorship and state assembly elections in Kwande LGA scheduled for last Saturday were postponed following a mix-up of some of the sensitive materials for the two state assembly constituencies in the area which are Kwande East and Kwande West.