Heavy security in Abia as INEC resumes collation of guber election results
By Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
There is heavy deployment of security operatives around the roads leading to the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Ogurube Layout Umuahia as the stage is set for the resumption of the collation of governorship election results which was on Monday suspended by INEC.
Heavily armed security operatives have taken over strategic locations in the state capital apparently to maintain law and order when the final winner of the March 18 governorship poll is eventually announced.
The suspension followed allegations of over voting in Obingwa Local Government Area.
Following the suspension, INEC said its National Commissioners from Abuja would visit Abia to review the disputed results.
As the Commissioners were being awaited, the electoral umpire later directed the Presiding Officer and Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO, Professor Nnenna Oti; and the Administrative Secretary, Clement Oha, to proceed to Abuja with the disputed results.
INEC, after ironing out issues with the disputed results, Wednesday morning, announced that collation would resume at the Collation Centre located inside its office in Umuahia.
The collation centre is now filled with newsmen and few party representative with an army of security operatives strategically positioned around the INEC facility, awaiting the arrival of the Presiding Officer and other stakeholders.
Heads of some Security agencies have equally assumed their seats at the high table.
Meanwhile, all the roads leading to INEC office have been cordoned off by heavily armed security agents.
Traffic is also being diverted to alternate routes.
Accessing the INEC facility has become a difficult task as visitors to the premises are subjected to security scrutiny.
Anxiety has continued to build across the state as the final declaration of the result is being awaited.
Governorship candidate of the Labour Party,Dr Alex Otti already has over 92,000 ahead of other candidates.
Results of 16 Local Government Areas have been declared remaining only the controversial Obingwa LGA result.
There have been peaceful protests both in Abia and Abuja as Abians demand that Otti be declared winner of the contest
