The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the collation of governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu states.
This decision was made following a meeting held by the Commission on Monday to review the conduct of the Governorship and State Assembly elections held nationwide on Saturday, 18th March 2023.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Festus Okoye, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, stated that the decision to suspend further collation of the Governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu States was taken after the Commission had thoroughly reviewed the conduct of the elections.
“Arising from the meeting, the Commission took the decision to suspend forthwith further collation of the Governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu States”, Okoye said.
INEC recalled how its office in Obingwa Local Government Area was invaded by thugs on Sunday, 19th March 2023 and its officials held hostage in relation to the collation of results from the Local Government Area. It had consequently vowed to thoroughly review results from the area.
“Similarly, reports from Enugu State call for a review of the results for the Governorship election from the two outstanding Local Government Areas of Nsukka and Nkanu East.”
As a result, the Commission has suspended the collation of results in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State and the two outstanding Local Government Areas of Enugu State which are yet to be collated. A review will be undertaken immediately before the process is concluded.
The commission appealed for the understanding and patience of voters, parties, and candidates in the affected States.