National Headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has suspended the collation of results in both Abia and Enugu States.
In a statement signed by National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee Barr. Festus Okoye, the commission said the decision was after it’s meeting on Monday.
“Arising from the meeting the commission took the decision to suspend forthwith further collation of the Governoship results in some parts of Enugu and Abia States.
“It could be recalled that our office in Obingwa LGA was invaded by thugs on Sunday and officials held hostage in connection with the collation of results in the Council Area.
“Similarly, reports from Enugu State calls for a review of the results from two outstanding local government areas of Nsukka and Nkanu East LGA’s.
“Consequently, the commission hereby suspends the collation of results in Obingwa LGA and the two outstanding local government areas of Nsukka and Nkanu East which are yet to be collated.
“A review will be undertaken immediately before the process is conculuded.
“We appeal for the patience of voters, parties and candidates in the affected States,” Okoye stated.
There has been a ding-dong between the Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the two states, with each accusing the other of engaging in electoral fraud.
Of particular mention are Obingwa LGA and Nkanu-East LGA in Abia and Enugu States respectively, where the Collation Officers were accused of falsifying results, by awarding votes to particular political parties even above the total number of registered voters in the LGA, among other electoral malfeasance.
Analysts say the perpetrators of such fraud and the political thugs know that with a seemingly compromised Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), headed by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, nothing will happen to them.
It was observed by several journalists, while on the coverage of the election, nationwide that security agencies even collude with thugs to cart away balloting materials and were also involved in denying people opportunity to cast their franchise.
