FRACAS BY PARTY AGENTS STALL COLLATION OF IMO GUBER ELECTION RESULTS

Collation and presentation of Governorship election results at INEC office in Owerri, Imo state were disrupted at the early hours of today following an argument between opposing political party agents.

Trouble started when result from Ideato South Local Government Area was brought by the electoral and collation officers for the council for presentation.

An agent of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Uche Onyeagocha, raised an objection that the result be rejected for alleged irregularities.

He drew the attention of the Returning Officer for the election and Vice Chancellor Micheal Okpara Federal University of Agriculture Umudike, Professor Francis Otunta, to an earlier petition to INEC over intimidation of party agents and manipulation of figures in Ideato South.

Onyeagocha alleged that thugs and security agents loyal to a particular candidate had stormed collation centre in Ideato South and made away with result sheets only to resurface with the controversial result.

Another party agent, who had sympathy for the Action Alliance, Chief Paschal Onwukaike, in a spontaneous reaction urged the commission to disregard the allegation of the PDP agent.

The Returning Officer, Professor Otunta, after brief consultation with the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo State, Professor Francis Ezeonu, directed that the result of Ideato South be presented.

Angered by the development, the PDP agent quickly grabbed the sheet and tore the contentious result for ideato south.

In a swift reaction Chief Onwukaike rushed to the collation desk and destroyed result sheets that had been earlier presented.

This led to free for all and everyone, including INEC officials scampered for safety.

The situation was later brought under control following intervention of security agencies, who later whisked away the two party agents and a special adviser to Governor Rochas Okorocha on electoral matters, Mr Stevie Asimobi.

Results from 11 out of the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State had been presented and announced before the fracas.

CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

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