from Princely Onyenwe
Election: A certain collation center in Owerri Imo state was filled up with troops of party agents and Electorates who trooped out en-masse to stop INEC adhoc workers from carrying the election results to the Local Government council headquarter Umuguma Owerri West without uploading the Presidential results and annouce the winners at that level.
Our correspodent reports that the alleged hostage of INEC Presiding Officers In Nekede was because of the failure of the BVAS machine to upload the Presidential result at the end of the election conducted at various polling units.
The elections went free and fare at the 54 Polling booths in Nekede but the hitches in the Upload was challenging at the time of this report.
The returning officer for Nekede was no where to be found several hours his co- officers were held ransom at the center.
The Presiding Officers who spoke to 9News Nigeria behind the camera, expressed bitterness over such development.
All the results collated was stocked in the field while different Political parties gathered to enforce the upload.
Our reporters gathered that the server to upload the result has no network connection at the time of this report.
Regrettedly, the officers at work have expressed fear of both their lives and INEC materials in their custody while calling on security agencies to rescue them.
“INEC people cannot go util the Presidential Election is uploaded and result collated and pronounced at Nekede collation center”
“How can other elections be successfully uploaded and the Presidential is not going through?”
“The returning officer is no where to be found, there is no network connection to upload and people are saying we should move our results to the local government”
However, the election was peaceful, free and fair apart from the hitches witnessed at the collation center witnessed by various party representatives.
When asked on the safety of INEC adhoc workers at the collation center, Presiding Officers told Newsmen that they were safe while hoping to get a signal network to enable them upload the remaining results as requested by the crowds of Electorates that gathered at collation center.
They added that there is nothing to bother Nekede voters since the latest BVAS transmits directly to INEC portal.
But the people insisted that results must be uploaded and be announced before the electorates at the collation center for onward transmission to the Local Government headquarter in Umuguma Owerri West.
The situation has triggered tension in Nekede ward (-7) seven that have up to fifty (54) four polling units.
Official chattered Vehicles are packed at the Nekede collation point, INEC workers stopped from going to the LG council headquarter while their lives and working materials including the results sheets are unsafe at press time.
A call put across to the Local Government council officers by our correspodent requested the Nekede people to allow their results be brought for submission without the upload as requested.
All results are well secured and was uploaded directly through the BVAS said the returning officer at his arrival to the collation center, central school Nekede. Nekede collation center comprises the following Autonomous Communities, Umuoma, Umudibia and Ancient kingdom.
9News Nigeria (Owerri) For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526
