We lost over 30 card readers to thugs in Imo – INEC
The Imo state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Francis Ezeonu on Wednesday disclosed that the commission lost over 30 smart card readers to thugs.
Prof. Ezeonu, who made the disclosure at the INEC state headquarters, Owerri at a breakfast meeting with journalists, said that some ad hoc staff, particular corps members have decided to withdraw from participating in the on-going electoral process due to violence and threat to their lives.
He decried the desperation of some politicians to win election at all cost and pleaded with them to drop the idea of engaging the services of thugs to actualize their political ambitions.
According to him, it was a deliberate effort by some politicians to ensure that the smart card readers did not work, alleging further that politicians bought voters’ cards from the holders in order to ensure that accreditation of voters was done manually.
The state resident electoral commissioner further disclosed that over 90 per cent of electoral officers sent to local government councils in the state to supervise the just concluded elections cut off communication with the situation room at the INEC headquarters.
He expressed shock that some special presiding officers and other ad hoc staff sold their appointment letters issued to them by the commission to politicians who engaged their aides as INEC ad hoc staff.
Prof. Ezeonu assured that the commission is currently investigating various cases of threat made to staff, particularly where the presiding officer for Imo West (Orlu zone) declared the senate result under duress.
