By Our Reporter, Abuja with Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The National Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Sunday declared open in Abuja, the National Collation Centre for the Presidential election, which took place nationwide on Saturday.
The INEC chairman in declaring the Centre open reeled out all the procedures of collation which will ultimately lead to his declaration of the winner of the election as President Elect, being the national returning officer for the election.
He promised that everything will be done transparently in the full glare of the nation and promised to make certain announcements or clarifications where necessary in the course of the collation.
According to the INEC boss, there might be interludes and adjournments as the process goes on but promised such adjournments would be announced beforehand.
After declaring the Centre open and laying down some house-keeping rules, The INEC boss adjourned proceedings until 6pm when according to him, some results from the states would have trickled in.
Meanwhile, collation of results in Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections had begun in the various senatorial and federal constituency centres in Abia State.
When our Correspondent visited the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at Adelabu Street, Umuahia North, collation of electoral results was on-going.
Presiding Officers mostly Youth Corps members were seen outside the INEC office waiting for their turn to reconcile their results with their respective collation officers.
Some of the corps members were seen lying on mat and complaining that they had not eaten nor had their bath since Saturday.
Meanwhile, results trickling in indicate that the Labour Party is in the lead.