By Wilson Adekumola
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom, Cyril Omorogbe, has declared that the rerun election in the area was marred with widespread violence that even led to the shooting of corps members in the leg, saying it has made INEC to cancel Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency Akwa Ibom.
He explained that the election was cancelled in all 17 polling units because of the snacthing of electoral materials, including Bimodal Verification Accreditation System machine.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Omorogbe made this known while speaking with journalists in Uyo adding that the rerun election in the are abysmal.
He said, “The fact is that we had about four local government areas where we conducted elections and one major one was Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency.
“We were there early enough and at about 8:30 a.m., polling units were opened. Couple of hours after we opened the polls, I received a call that BVAS machines were snatched.
“Two hours after that I received another report that was not good. So, the election in Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency has been cancelled.
“They were fighting all through the local government area in the 17 polling units. I received a report from Collation Officers in the area that election did not hold.
“In the 17 polling units, materials were either snatched or the process disrupted.
“The Collation Officers have all returned and have written their reports. The result sheets they were supposed to fill are all here in Uyo. Apparently, there was no election,’’ he said.
Mr Omorogbe, however, lamented that the one of the corps member was shot on election duty was shot in the leg during the violence still in the hospital receiving treatment.
He condemned the activities of the political leaders, wondering how they would be so desperate in a federal constituency election to that would lead to the shooting of an innocent corps member.
“The corps member was shot; he is still in the hospital,’’ he said.
Mr Omorogbe stated further that no annoying reports had been received in Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency and that results from there would be declared.
He said INEC would decide the next line of action on the Ikono/Ini federal constituency after a meeting in Abuja.
Source: NAN
