Unknown gunmen reportedly abducted election officials with materials for yesterday’s rerun elections that were headed for the 8 polling units in Afayna/Igoni-Igoni ward under Abi state constituency in Cross River State.
The Federal Commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in charge of South-South region, Dr. Mohammed Lecky told newsmen during election duties that the incident occurred in the middle of the river leading to the community.
Backed by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr. Alalibo Johnson and the Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state Mrs. Irene Ngozi Oghuma, the Federal Commissioner said the unknown gunmen accosted the electoral officials with materials and went away with all the voting materials along with the SPO (State Presiding Officer).
According to him, the security men that accompanied the materials and men of election duties decided to avoid casualty by not engaging the unknown armed men in the middle of the river.
He expressed sadness over the incident but thanked God that all the NYSC members on duty and other election duty officials have returned safely to office except the SPO, whose phone kept ringing without response.
He said the total number of registered voters in the affected area where the materials have been hijacked was 5606.
Below is the movie of the unfortunate and shameful incident:
