Trained staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are blocked from work as their names are missing in the list at a Regional Area Centre ten minutes before scheduled opening voting time for the Presidential and General election in Port Harcourt, southern Nigeria, on February 23, 2019. – Nigerians began voting for a new president on February 23, after a week-long delay that has raised political tempers, sparked conspiracy claims and stoked fears of violence. Some 120,000 polling stations began opening from 0700 GMT, although there were indications of a delay in the delivery of some materials and deployment of staff, AFP reporters said. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP)
as PDP calls for rescue of returning officer
By Chinonso Alozie
Owerri – The Imo West Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Jones Onyereri, has called on International community to come and rescue the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, returning officer, I. I Ibeawuchi, for Imo West election.
Imo state
Onyereri raised this alarm Monday morning at the PDP, state Secretariat along Okigwe road in Owerri.
Vanguard gathered that tension is rising in Imo west where allegations and counter allegations of voting buying, ballot paper snatching and threatening of INEC’s ad-hoc staff have been reported.
Imo state governor Rochas Okorocha and Jones Onyereri of the PDP, are said to be in a tight race over who will win the Imo West senatorial district.
But according to Onyereri’s claims, “I am here to alert the whole world an hour ago that collation center for the Imo West Senatorial district has been invaded’
https://newlive.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/court-asks-inec-to-make-kabba-collation-centre-for-kogi-west/
He alleged that, “they are forcing the returning officer, Professor I.I Ibewuchi to declare Okorocha winner.’
Onyereri was worried by the manner in which “the governor, his staff, security agents led by the assistant Commissioner of police, Onu arrived at the collation center.
He also said : “At about 1am, Ibeawuchi pleaded that let us go to Owerri and announce this result that he is not safe again at the collation center, but they refused and stopped the man I hope the man stays alive in the next one minute. We are calling on international community to come to our rescue concerning the invasion.
“Just imagine, the number turned out in Ideato federal constituency is far above the registered voters.
“As it is now, they have not announced the genuine results, that is why they refused the man from coming to Owerri.” He concluded.
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