Ada Wodu, Calabar
An official of the Independent National Electoral Commission who was kidnapped by gunmen on Saturday during the House of Representatives rerun election in Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency of Cross River State has regained his freedom.
This was announced by the management of INEC in a statement made available to our correspondent by INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity Anthonia Nwobi.
He said in the statement, “The kidnapped victim has regained freedom from his abductors without election materials recovered, which include sensitive and non-sensitive materials. The lost items include 9 smart card readers, 5616 ballot papers, result sheets, etc.
“Others are mobile phones and cash from election officials who were basically National Youth Service Corps members.
“Apart from the policeman that sustained injury, no life was lost. However, the Commission has cancelled the election in Afafanyi/Igonigoni Ward consisting of 8 polling units and 5616 registered voters due to the violent abduction of the Supervisory Polling Officer, the ballot papers, result sheets, and smart card readers. INEC does not reward impunity/violence.”
The Commission appealed for patience from the public and assured them that “results from the polling units will reflect in the final collation and declaration of results.”
Meanwhile, as of the time of this report, the All Progressives Congress was leading by a wide margin in all the results turned in from some polling units in Ekureku in the House of Representatives’ rerun. Collation of results was still ongoing.
