Today’s "Supplementary Elections" called by INEC to complete Imo's "inconclusive" gubernatorial elections ran into troubled waters in Oguta local government area in the state as election materials failed to arrive the area on time.
Today’s "Supplementary Elections" called by INEC to complete Imo's "inconclusive" gubernatorial elections ran into troubled waters in Oguta local government area in the state as election materials failed to arrive the area on time.
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It was not clear what happened to the materials as at the time of filling this report but women in the area sensing that the troubled governor of the state, Ikedi Ohakim, colluded with unscrupulous INEC officials to short change voters in the area embarked aon a massive protest defying the army and police..
No fewer than 1,000 voters at Oguta lag took to the streets to force INEC to postpone elections in the area. INEC hasn't explained why there the non availability of electoral materials for the supplementary governorship poll in the area.
Protesters mostly led by brave women trooped out early in the morning for the registration to enable them cast their votes but after hours of waiting in vain for the arrival of the materials the people took to the streets.
As at 3 p.m. the exercise had yet to begin and no INEC official could be found in the area to explain the situation. But SaharaReporters gathered that the elections were postponed to avoid a total breakdown of law and order in the area.
The protesters carried green leaves and chanted; `` No election in Oguta’’.
A senior police officer, DIG, I.U Okoronkwo accompanied by the Area Police Commander, Tambari Mohammed and heads of other security agencies in the state as well as the supervising Resident Electoral Officer Aniedi Ikoiwak visited the area to assess the situation.
The Security team met with the INEC officials before leaving.
The protesters alleged electoral malpractice and warned INEC not to accept or declare any result from Oguta insisting that no election took place in the area.
SaharaReporters had revealed in earlier updates that today's supplementary elections in Imo state was a logistical failure in all respects.
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