INEC orders arrest of 2 officials in Imo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ordered for the arrest of the election collation officer for Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of Imo state, Kelechi Ezirim over alleged electoral malpractice.

Ezirim is currently cooling off in police custody following the directive. The electoral body which ordered the arrest also handed over the electoral officer in charge of Ohaji Egbema, Chris Ogbuadu, to the police.

This development is coming shortly after the electoral officers presented the result of the governorship election in the area amidst protest by agents of some political parties.

Both officers admitted to collating results from polling units where elections did not take place.

Ezirim said he was alerted that thugs snatched electoral materials meant for some of the units, but later accepted the results emanating from the same units.

The returning officer, Francis Otunta, described the acts as electoral malpractices and ordered that the two officers be taken into police custody.

Collation of results resumed at the INEC premises after the incident disrupted the exercise in the early hours of Monday.