Ballot-Box Snatching, Missing Result-Sheets Mar Ogbaru House of Reps Supplementary Election

Snatching of ballot boxes by thugs and missing of results sheets characterised the conduct of the supplementary election for the Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Anambra state, today.

The polls also witnessed invasion of the areas where elections held, by top political appointees of the Anambra state government, including the Special Adviser on political matters to the state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, Commissioner for Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Tonycollins Nwabunwanne, as well as, his Works Commissioner counterpart, Mr. Ifeanyi Okeoma among others.

Ironically, the above mentioned political appointees are not residents of any of the wards housing the about 45 polling units where the make-up elections held.

They strangely were seen moving round different polling units with security operatives.

Also thugs suspected to be working for the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the state were said to be behind the snatching of the ballot boxes at polling units 021 and 052, Okpoko V1 where the result sheets were suspected to have been hijacked by the agents of the ruling APGA in the state.

Voters at polling unit 052, Okpoko Ward V1 complained that INEC officials did not deploy voting materials in the area.

As at noon, no INEC officials were sighted at the polling unit.

INEC officials also cancelled the exercise at polling unit 019, Okpoko Ward 3 after thugs snatched the ballot box there immediately after voting ended and sorting of votes was about to commence.

Also, the polling unit located at Umueri town hall in Ward Okpoko Ward V1 was also invaded by thugs who made away with the ballot box.

Sorting of votes had commenced at polling unit 009, Okpoko Ward five before the Supervisory Polling Officer, SPO, came and stopped the exercise insisting that it should wait until 2.30pm official closing period for voting. Thugs were later to storm the polling unit and made away with the ballot box shortly after Dr. Obiogbolu and Okeoma arrived the area.

Result sheet for polling unit 058, Okpoko Ward V1 was also missing.

Meanwhile, the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the results of the election where the polls were conducted in the federal constituency during the main election of February 25 presidential/ National Assembly elections as issued by the INEC showed that the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene was leading, followed by his All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, counterpart, Hon. Arinze Awogu while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and, incumbent representative of the federal constituency, Hon . Chukwuka Onyema placed third.

Though Obiogbolu declined granting any interview the Works Commissioner insisted that the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the state should win the election.