Imo bye-election: Scores of INEC officials abducted in Ngor Okpala

Some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were abducted in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, on Saturday.

The officials were among those conducting the bye-election in the area.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo, Prof Francis Ezeonu, who briefed journalists at the Commission’s secretariat in Owerri, the state capital, urged security agents to rescue the kidnapped staff.

He confirmed the commission received reports of violence, snatching of INEC materials, disruption of polls and attack on INEC personnel in some polling units.

However, there is anxiety as Ngor-Okpala constituents await the result of the state constituency election

Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that supporters of a particular politician, who were accompanied by security agents, carted away ballot boxes at Umuhu Comprehensive Secondary school in Umuhu, Ngor Okpala ward 9, shortly after voting ended.

Similarly , in polling unit, booth 011, Community School 111, Umuowa, ballot boxes were carted away by gunmen who shot sporadically as voters fled the polling units.

It the was the same in Obike, Eziama Elelem, Umuohiagu in Obokwe and Alulu in ward 1, where some persons were abducted.