Tension as Imo REC ignores CP’s order to stop announcement of results

There was tension yesterday at the Imo State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Owerri, as Commissioner of Police (CP), Bolaji Fafowora, ordered the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Francis Ezeonu to stop announcing results of a rerun election.

Fafowora had stormed the venue of collation of results for the Orlu/Orsu/Oru East Federal Constituency rerun poll and ordered the suspension of the results, at which point most people in the Professor Okey Ibeanu Hall, venue of the collation, for fear of what the directive could cause

However, Ezeonu addressed party agents, observers and journalists on the presence of some national commissioners from Abuja.

The CP was quoted as saying he was carrying out a court order to stop the announcement of results, but despite the pressure, Ezeonu refused to adhere to the directive, saying, “Please allow me to do my job. Please allow us to do our job.”

Fafowora, who cited invasion of the Orlu collation centre by thugs, however, left after the REC’s screaming, just as INEC Commissioner for South-South, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, explained the guidelines to the CP before the announcement of reults proceeded.

As at the time of filing this report, collation was still ongoing as only results of two of four polling units were announced, while the two others were voided for over voting.

Also, of 1,386 registered voters, 576 voters were accredited. The All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 464 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 99 votes.

More collation was going on as at the time of filing this report.