Confusion has rocked the Imo State Collation Centre in Owerri, the state capital, as party agents kicked against the “hurried collation” of results for the November 11, 2023 governorship poll.
Why are we in a hurry to start collation?” some of the party agents protested Sunday midnight. “Party agents are not allowed to express their grievances. The world is watching.”
However, the state Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the election, Prof Abayomi Fashina, insisted that the collation will proceed.
“Look at the collation results sheet,” the returning officer said, raising a new booklet above the rising voices of dissent by party agents. “So, let’s go ahead, please.”
But a visibly aggrieved party agent stood up and said, “We have a petition to the INEC chairman. Allow us to submit our petition.” The male agent from one of the opposition parties said the election was marred by voter intimidation, vote buying, and violence, saying that voting was not held in some polling units in Imo. He alleged that collation officers at the local government areas (LGAs) “manufactured” results.
The allegation of “manufactured” results was immediately refuted by one of the LGA collation officers even as party agents from the opposition instantly supported their colleague who raised the concerns.