TROUBLE IN IMO AS INEC CONDUCTS PRESIDENTIAL & NASS ELECTIONS

 
REPORTER: CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

The February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Imo State witnessed a lot of challenges, which ranged from late arrival of election materials at the polling units to total absence of electoral officials in some local government areas.

Accreditation and voting commenced at about noon in most of the polling units visited in Owerri municipal council, Owerri North, Ikeduru, Mbaitoli, Owerri West and Oru East Local Government Areas of the state.

Some prospective voters, who were at Azuzii Ward 4 Uzii Primary School in Owerri municipal and Central School, Attah in Ikeduru Local Government Areas told Radio Nigeria that they got to the polling units as early as 6:30 am to exercise their franchise but had to wait till around past ten o’clock for materials to arrive.

There was, however, a near breakdown of law and order at Akwakuma Girls Secondary School in Owerri North with three polling booths where materials arrived around 1pm but voting could not commence as the supervisory presiding officer, Mrs. Josephine Edomodi, allegedly absconded with result sheets thereby making the youths to resist commencement of the election in the centre.

The INEC Public Relations officer in Imo State, Dr. Chinenye Chijioke-Osuji, said the Commission and security agents had launched a manhunt on the absconding Mrs. Edomodi, who she said was not responding to calls put across to her phone line.

Dr. Chijioke-Osuji explained that commercial drivers, who were engaged to deliver electoral materials at Orlu, Orsu and Okigwe Local Government Areas refused going to the areas at dying minute citing insecurity as their reasons.

The exercise though commenced around noon at Central School Owerre- Akokwa in Ideato North Local Government Area, the people conducted themselves peacefully and in an orderly manner.

The President General of the Community, Dr. Emeka Anyalebechi, who expressed delight with the seamless exercise in the area, commended security agents deployed there for doing a good job.

Radio Nigeria observed that the exercise was however seamless in some polling units, including Government College Owerri and Ngwoma-obube Primary School in Owerri North LGA where senatorial candidate of the APC for Imo East, Chief Alex Mbata, commended INEC for the efficiency of the Bimordal voter accreditation system (BVAS).

 EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU