Imo bye-election: INEC ad hoc workers kidnapped

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo State, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, has raised the alarm over the abduction of some ad hoc staff of the commission in Ngor Okpala bye-election.

Ezeonu, who disclosed this on Saturday while briefing newsmen, said the abducted ad hoc staff were taken to unknown destination where they were forced to thump print some hijacked ballot papers.

“We have received the report of violence of election and corruption of polls on some polling units and attacks on our personnel. So far no casualty has been reported.

“Security has been up and doing their work to rescue some of our staff trapped in the violence. We remain grateful to them and pray that they succeed in the work they are doing.

“We have noticed with great worries the abduction of some of our ad hoc staff with the election materials towards the end of the polls. While the earlier violence started with snatching materials it ended with the abduction of our staff, ballot papers and materials.

“Some of our abducted adhoc staff were blindfolded and taken to unknown destinations where they were compelled to thump print the ballot papers.

“We wish to reassure the general public that the results manufactured from unknown places will not be collected. The number of votes caste must be tallied with the number of accredited voters,” he stated.